Vancouver alternate school moving to high school, parents worry students will be at risk

The Vancouver School Board (VSB) made the decision last week to relocate Ideal Mini School, a supportive alternate school program, to Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School for the 2023-24 school year.

The alternate school currently has roughly 110 students and has operated beside Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School on 59th Avenue for around 40 years.

According to VSB Assistant Superintendent Pedro da Silva, the relocation decision was made to prioritize students in Laurier’s catchment area who are entering kindergarten.

“There is not enough space for kindergarten students or elementary schools in that area,” he said.

“As part of the process of reviewing district programs, we do prioritize in-catchment students.”

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Ideal Mini School’s Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) describes the school as “an enriched academic program that emphasizes community, collaboration, leadership, mentorship and social responsibility.”

“Older kids take on leadership roles, helping the younger students grow and develop. Students who come to this school want a small school experience for a number of reasons – some have anxiety, some are neurodiverse or have unique learning needs, and others are strong community leaders who connect with the school’s mission. All thrive here,” PAC explained in a release.

Former student Sasha Torchinsky says the program helped them feel accepted.

“Ideal didn’t just accept me for who I was – a queer kid failed by the school system – it embraced me,” Torchinsky said. “And I wasn’t alone. Ideal is a second home for many kids. A place where they weren’t just a number but someone special and unique. The community is built on trust and support.”

‘The kids are devastated’: Chair says 

PAC Chair Jennifer Uegama says the change has a big impact on the children who currently attend the program.

“The kids are devastated,” Uegama said.  “Kids come to this school from all walks of life. They choose to be in a small environment and learn within a diverse and accepting community.”

Da Silva tells CityNews Sir Winston Churchill Secondary doesn’t have any portables or outbuildings, meaning the program will exist within the school building with roughly 2,000 other students present.

The change, according to VSB Trustee Suzie Mah, was an operational decision that trustees weren’t given the opportunity to vote on.

“My biggest concern is … we have a group of students who were looking forward to the end of the school year, wrapping up … plans for the following year, and now this is going to be interrupted by not knowing where they’re going to end up in the facility,” she said.

Mah is the only representative who is set to attend the Ideal Mini School’s emergency stakeholder meeting Monday night.

She says she was shocked to hear the move was going forward considering the negative reception to the initial idea.

“When stakeholder groups were asked how they felt about that, I believe that the results said that they were not in favor. And yet here we are doing this.”

PAC says stakeholders are meeting Monday night at 7 p.m. to discuss the school’s relocation.

Meanwhile, da Silva tells CityNews VSB will be meeting with parents from the school Thursday to discuss the program moving and take questions.

“In that meeting, we’re going to talk about how we’re going to move the program, and how we can support the students and the parents that are currently attending the Ideal program, and incoming parents or students are going to be coming into the program.”

Da Silva says students are technically already registered for September 2023 at the new location.