---
title: "What Vancouver's Seven School Board Parties Are Promising on Six Key Issues"
description: "The Tyee surveyed every party running for the Vancouver School Board on seismic upgrades, student mental health, school land, police in schools, AI chatbots, and board transparency."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/school-board-issues-guide-october-15"
last_updated: "2026-10-17T19:03:18.821Z"
---

The Tyee compared all seven parties running for Vancouver's nine school board trustee seats across six issues: seismic safety, student mental health, police in schools, AI chatbots, school land, and board transparency. The piece was published October 15, 2026 by reporter Katie Hyslop.

**Seismic upgrades.** Vancouver has 43 schools the province lists as future priorities for seismic upgrading, with no current plans, The Tyee reports, more than any other district in BC. The school district says earthquake-proofing them will cost $1.4 billion. COPE, the Greens, and the Vancouver Liberals each promise to make seismic upgrades the top capital priority. TEAM says they will demand the province act. ABC's platform does not mention the issue.

**Student mental health.** The 2023 BC Adolescent Health Survey found nearly 20 per cent of young people could not access the mental health services they needed, according to The Tyee. COPE, Vote Vancouver, and the Vancouver Liberals promise to push for more school counsellors. ABC promises teacher training and classroom supports for students with disabilities but makes no mental health pledges.

**Police in schools.** Vancouver cancelled its School Liaison Officer program in 2021 after consultation showed 60 per cent of Black respondents and half of Indigenous respondents had negative views of police in schools, The Tyee reports. ABC trustees brought the program back in 2023 and have no new platform position on it. Vote Vancouver supports it with conditions. The Greens call for a review. COPE wants counsellors instead.

**AI chatbots.** The Vancouver School Board introduced AI chatbot accounts for all students 13 and older in May 2026, with no board vote or advance public notice. TEAM, COPE, and the Greens promise to pause the rollout. OneCity would limit access to Grades 10 to 12. ABC has no platform position.

**School land.** The school board holds around $9.5 billion in real estate, including the Kingsgate Mall site. OneCity pledges to build a new school there. TEAM promises to reverse the closure of Sir Guy Carleton Elementary. Most parties say they will protect district lands; ABC is silent.

**Board transparency.** ABC trustees increased private meetings during their current term and amended a OneCity transparency motion. COPE and OneCity both promise to open meetings to public attendance. ABC has no platform position.

Voters choosing school board trustees can read each party's platform at [/parties](/parties). Voting day is Saturday, October 17. If you have a mail ballot, the deadline to return it in person is October 17.

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