--- title: "Advance Richmond on schools | Richmond 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform/schools" last_updated: "2026-10-31T17:02:47.725Z" meta: description: "Advance Richmond's trustee candidates promised to let the public speak on agenda items at board and committee meetings, to publish data on substance use, b..." "og:description": "Advance Richmond's trustee candidates promised to let the public speak on agenda items at board and committee meetings, to publish data on substance use, b..." "og:title": "Advance Richmond on schools | Richmond 2026" "twitter:description": "Advance Richmond's trustee candidates promised to let the public speak on agenda items at board and committee meetings, to publish data on substance use, b..." "twitter:title": "Advance Richmond on schools | Richmond 2026" --- Advance Richmond · Richmond 2026 # Public delegations at board meetings, published data on bullying and drug use at schools, and work experience programs Advance Richmond's trustee candidates promised to let the public speak on agenda items at board and committee meetings, to publish data on substance use, bullying and violence against staff, to set up a business advisory committee for the district, and to expand co-op and internship programs. All three elected trustees promised to advocate for adequate funding of public education. [Compare all parties on this ](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/issues/schools) [All four issues](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform) [**6**Candidates](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/candidates) [**4/4**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform) [**31**Sources on file](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/money) **10**Questions answered SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ## Advance Richmond on schools Each trustee candidate's statement to the City says the organization's full education platform is in the statements of all its trustee candidates. Dean Billings' statement promises transparent and democratic decision-making and evidence-based decision-making, and sets a goal of first place in BC in literacy scores, math scores and graduation rates. Danny Chang's statement promises a Richmond Business Community Advisory Committee, more fundraising, easier rental of school facilities by community groups, and more co-op, internship and job shadowing programs. Rod Belleza, who was a trustee before the vote, promises adequate funding, safe and inclusive schools, life skills, financial literacy and a stronger student voice. A post of October 14, 2026 asks who oversees the district's meal card spending, which it says rose from $627,000 in 2022-2023 to $1.23 million in 2024-2025. voche.me has not checked those figures against the district's financial statements. Danny Chang's page on the organization's site says children can be vulnerable to "misguided policies, especially around drug use and school safety". 7 PUBLISHED COMMITMENTS ## What they say they will do - ### Let the public speak on agenda items at board and committee meetings Dean Billings' statement to the City promises to allow delegations from the public on agenda items and at public committee meetings, and to open Indigenous and other board advisory committees to the public. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=98) - ### Publish data on substance use, bullying and violence at schools Dean Billings' statement to the City promises to publish data on substance use on school grounds, racism, bullying, class evacuations and violence against staff, and to evaluate changes, pilots and outside vendors in a systematic way. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=98) - ### First in BC in literacy, math and graduation rates Dean Billings' statement to the City sets the goal of getting Richmond to first place in BC in literacy scores, math scores and graduation rates. It names no measure and no date. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=98) - ### A Richmond Business Community Advisory Committee Danny Chang's statement to the City promises a Richmond Business Community Advisory Committee, more fundraising opportunities, and school facilities that are easier for community organizations to rent. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=103) - ### More co-op, internship and job shadowing programs Danny Chang's statement to the City promises to expand co-op programs, internships, job shadowing, business field trips and volunteer opportunities, and to strengthen financial literacy and preparation for an AI-driven economy. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=103) - ### Advocate for adequate funding of public education The statements to the City of Rod Belleza, Dean Billings and Danny Chang each promise to advocate for adequate funding of public education. Belleza's adds mental health funding. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=101) [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=98) [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=103) - ### Safe and inclusive schools, life skills and financial literacy Rod Belleza's statement to the City promises a safe and inclusive learning environment, life skills to improve students' well-being, financial literacy and a stronger student voice. His page on the organization's site says he raised substance use awareness and child poverty as a trustee. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=101) [Advance Richmond Community Association](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/rod-belleza/) ### What is not published - The organization has no single school platform page. The promises are spread over its six trustee candidates' statements, and voche.me read those of the three elected. - The meal card figures in its October 14, 2026 post are its own, and voche.me has not checked them. ## Sources A source marked SAYS SO ITSELF is the party's own material. It proves what the party claims, not that the claim is true. 1. [Register of Elector Organizations by Jurisdiction, as of October 30, 2026 ](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/List-of-elector-organizations-by-jurisdiction.pdf)Elections BC · published October 30, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 2. [Elector organizations: registration and financial reporting ](https://elections.bc.ca/local-elections/elector-organizations/)Elections BC · checked October 30, 2026 3. [Financial Reports and Political Contributions System: local elections search ](https://contributions.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca/pcs/LESearch.aspx)Elections BC · checked October 30, 2026 4. [Declaration of Election by Voting, September 21, 2026 ](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Declaration_of_Election_by_Voting_-_September_21__202679778.pdf)City of Richmond · published September 21, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 5. [Declaration of Official Election Results, October 21, 2026 ](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/2026_declaration_of_official_result79945.pdf)City of Richmond · published October 21, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 6. [Candidate profile: Kevin Lai, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=85)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 7. [Candidate profile: Grace Tsang, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=86)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 8. [Candidate profile: Sheldon Starrett, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=94)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 9. [Candidate profile: Rod Belleza, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=101)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 10. [Candidate profile: Dean Billings, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=98)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 11. [Candidate profile: Danny Chang, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=103)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 12. [Advance Richmond: home page and values ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 13. [Advance Richmond: About ARCA ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/about/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 14. [Advance Richmond: 2026 Richmond Election Candidates ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/election-2026/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 15. [Advance Richmond: Latest News and community updates ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 16. [Advance Richmond Congratulates Six Team Members Following the 2026 Richmond Election ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/richmond-2026-election-results/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · published October 18, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 17. [Advance Richmond: Kevin Lai ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/kevin-lai/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 18. [Advance Richmond: Gary Law ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/gary-law/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 19. [Advance Richmond: Sheldon Starrett ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/sheldon-starrett/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 20. [Advance Richmond: Rod Belleza ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/rod-belleza/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 21. [Advance Richmond: Dean Billings ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/dean-billings/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 22. [Advance Richmond: Danny Chang ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/danny-chang/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 23. [Advance Richmond adds four more candidates to slate ](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/advance-richmond-adds-four-more-candidates-to-slate-12760189)Richmond News · published September 9, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 24. [Richmond election 2026: A complete list of local candidates ](https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/heres-who-running-in-richmond-come-election-time-in-october-12771026)Richmond News · published September 11, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 25. [Richmond Votes: Newly formed slate Advance Richmond elects three councillors ](https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/richmond-votes-advance-richmond-elects-three-councillors-12907463)Richmond News · published October 18, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 26. [Richmond Votes: Five fresh faces on Richmond city council ](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-four-fresh-faces-on-richmond-council-12908027)Richmond News · published October 18, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 27. [Richmond Votes: Municipal election turnout rises by 15K in 2026 ](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-municipal-election-turnout-rises-by-15k-in-2026-12911501)Richmond News · published October 19, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 28. [Richmond council votes 8-1 to explore safe drug consumption site ](https://www.richmond-news.com/local-opioid-crisis-news/richmond-council-votes-8-1-to-explore-safe-drug-consumption-site-8214640)Richmond News · published February 5, 2024 · checked October 30, 2026 29. [Scores rally against supportive housing, B.C. drug policy in Richmond ](https://globalnews.ca/news/11022267/richmond-rally-drug-housing/)Global News · published February 17, 2025 · checked October 30, 2026 30. [Richmond election results in minimal change ](https://www.richmondsentinel.ca/article-detail/27708/richmond-election-results-in-minimal-change)Richmond Sentinel · published October 15, 2022 · checked October 30, 2026 31. [VoteMate: Advance Richmond, 2026 BC Local Elections ](https://en.votemate.org/bc2026/parties/305)VoteMate · checked October 30, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/bc/richmond-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.