--- title: "Safe, Healthy and Climate Resilient Schools: the Green Party of Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/parties/green-party-of-vancouver/2026-platform/school-board/safe-healthy-and-climate-resilient-schools" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:00:38.774Z" meta: description: "The Green Party of Vancouver would keep seismic safety at the top of school building priorities, citing 43 of 106 VSB buildings still at high risk, prepare..." "og:description": "The Green Party of Vancouver would keep seismic safety at the top of school building priorities, citing 43 of 106 VSB buildings still at high risk, prepare..." "og:title": "Safe, Healthy and Climate Resilient Schools: the Green Party of Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" "twitter:description": "The Green Party of Vancouver would keep seismic safety at the top of school building priorities, citing 43 of 106 VSB buildings still at high risk, prepare..." "twitter:title": "Safe, Healthy and Climate Resilient Schools: the Green Party of Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" --- ** Green Party of Vancouver · Vancouver 2026 # Vancouver Greens on seismic upgrades, school heat and smoke, and AI chatbots The Green Party of Vancouver would keep seismic safety at the top of school building priorities, citing 43 of 106 VSB buildings still at high risk, prepare every school for extreme heat and wildfire smoke, and request a pause on AI chatbots in schools for a full review. All 21 commitments [Read pages 61 to 63 of the PDF ](https://assets.nationbuilder.com/vangreens/pages/6122/attachments/original/1790718545/Platform_2026_-_Green_Party_of_Vancouver_%281%29.pdf?1790718545#page=61) [**10**Candidates](https://voche.me/parties/green-party-of-vancouver/candidates) [**10/10**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/parties/green-party-of-vancouver/platform) [**12**Sources on file](https://voche.me/parties/green-party-of-vancouver/money) **8**Questions answered SCHOOL BOARD · PAGES 61 TO 63 ## Safe, Healthy and Climate Resilient Schools: what the Platform 2026 says The Green Party of Vancouver's plan for school buildings puts earthquake safety first. The party says 43 of the Vancouver School Board's 106 buildings are still at high seismic risk and puts the cost at an estimated $1.63 billion. It would keep seismic work at the top of the board's capital priorities, the list of large building projects, and ask the Province to approve and fund the projects still waiting. The Greens also name two crowded schools to put first in capital planning: King George Secondary, which the party says is at 166% of capacity, and Carr Elementary, which it says is over capacity and uses portables. The second section prepares schools for a hotter climate. The Greens would plan for extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding and power outages, seek provincial money for heat pumps and better ventilation during renewals, and send limited retrofit money first to the schools most at risk from heat. They would map which key schools have shade and use that list to decide where to plant trees. With the Park Board, they would try Miyawaki pilots, a way of planting forest that the platform says speeds up forest growth. The third section covers student safety. The party would request a pause on AI chatbots in schools while students, parents and educators are consulted and policies are reviewed, including ethics and effects on thinking. It would review the Supporting and Connecting Youth (SACY) prevention program and evaluate any police or school liaison partnership using evidence and community input. The board ranks its own building needs and sets school policy, and the platform itself says seismic projects need provincial approval and funding. THE PARTY'S NUMBERS ## Figures in this chapter **43** VSB buildings the party says remain seismically high-risk The party's figure, page 61 **106** Total VSB buildings the party counts in its seismic figure The party's figure, page 61 **$1.63 billion** Estimated cost the party gives for the seismically high-risk VSB buildings The party's figure, page 61 **166%** Capacity the party says King George Secondary is at The party's figure, page 61 21 COMMITMENTS ## What the party says it would do 1. ### Keep seismic safety at the top of capital priorities The Greens would keep seismic safety at the top of Vancouver's school capital priorities, the list of large building projects. The party says 43 of 106 VSB buildings remain seismically high-risk, at an estimated $1.63 billion.
Who has the power
School Board The board sets its own list of building priorities.
Source
Platform 2026, page 61
2. ### Seek provincial approval and funding for seismic projects The party would ask the Province to approve and fund outstanding seismic projects.
Who has the power
Province The platform says these projects need provincial approval and funding, so the board can only ask.
Source
Platform 2026, page 61
3. ### Deliver accessibility improvements with renewals The Greens would make sure accessibility improvements are delivered alongside major school renewals.
Who has the power
School Board The board plans its own renewal projects.
Source
Platform 2026, page 61
4. ### Prioritize preventive maintenance The party would give priority to maintenance that stops small building problems from becoming costly failures.
Who has the power
School Board The Board of Education approves the district budget, so it can do this itself.
Source
Platform 2026, page 61
5. ### Report on the condition of school buildings The Greens would improve long-term public reporting on the condition of school buildings.
Who has the power
School Board The board sets its own meeting rules, consultation and reporting, so it can do this itself.
Source
Platform 2026, page 61
6. ### Plan for growth, starting with King George and Carr The party would match capital planning to expected neighbourhood growth and enrolment changes. It would put King George Secondary, which it says is at 166% capacity, and Carr Elementary, which it says is over capacity and using portables, first.
Who has the power
School Board The board sets its own capital plan, while the platform looks to the Province for the money.
Source
Platform 2026, page 61
7. ### Match neighbourhood growth with school space The Greens would work with the City and the Province so that new neighbourhood growth comes with enough school space.
Who has the power
City, with others The City approves new housing and the platform looks to the Province for school building money, so the board can only work with both.
Source
Platform 2026, page 61
8. ### Prepare schools for heat, smoke, floods and outages The party would prepare schools for extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, power outages and other risks.
Who has the power
School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
Source
Platform 2026, page 62
9. ### Reduce energy use and emissions The Greens would reduce energy use and emissions from VSB buildings where technically and financially feasible.
Who has the power
School Board The board runs its own buildings, within the money it has.
Source
Platform 2026, page 62
10. ### Add natural areas and shade to school grounds The party would add natural areas, water retention, shade and biodiversity to school-ground planning.
Who has the power
School Board The board plans its own school grounds.
Source
Platform 2026, page 62
11. ### Consider climate risk in capital decisions The Greens would weigh climate risk in long-term capital and maintenance decisions.
Who has the power
School Board The Board of Education approves the district budget, so it can do this itself.
Source
Platform 2026, page 62
12. ### Seek provincial funding for heat pumps and ventilation The party would pursue dedicated provincial capital funding for climate adaptation and energy-efficiency upgrades, including heat pumps and ventilation during building renewals.
Who has the power
Province The platform asks the Province for this money, so the board can only request it.
Source
Platform 2026, page 62
13. ### Retrofit the most vulnerable schools first The Greens would give limited retrofit money first to the most vulnerable schools, including those most at risk from extreme heat that need cooling and better air quality.
Who has the power
School Board The Board of Education approves the district budget, so it can do this itself.
Source
Platform 2026, page 62
14. ### Shade inventory, tree planting and Miyawaki pilots The party would create a shade inventory for key schools and use it to decide where to plant trees first. It would develop Miyawaki pilots with the Park Board, which the platform says would speed up forest growth.
Who has the power
School Board The board controls its school grounds, and the Miyawaki pilots need the Park Board as a partner.
Source
Platform 2026, page 62
15. ### Ensure emergency planning with partners The Greens would make sure enough emergency planning is in place by the City of Vancouver, health authorities, nearby community facilities and other partners.
Who has the power
City, with others The City and health authorities make their own emergency plans, so the board can only work with them.
Source
Platform 2026, page 62
16. ### Request a pause on AI chatbots The party would request a pause on the use of AI chatbots in schools so students, parents and educators can be properly consulted. It would carry out a full review of policy and procedures, including ethics and effects on thinking and learning (the PDF says 'cognitive impacts').
Who has the power
School Board The board sets policy for its own schools, including which tools they use.
Source
Platform 2026, page 63
17. ### Strengthen prevention and early intervention The Greens would strengthen evidence-based prevention and early-help programs so that students feel safe asking for help before problems grow.
Who has the power
School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
Source
Platform 2026, page 63
18. ### Support programs on substance use The party would support and evaluate programs that address substance use and other risks young people face.
Who has the power
School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
Source
Platform 2026, page 63
19. ### Strengthen the SACY program The Greens would review ways to strengthen the Supporting and Connecting Youth (SACY) program and similar prevention work.
Who has the power
School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
Source
Platform 2026, page 63
20. ### Safety procedures that respect diverse communities The party would maintain clear safety approaches and emergency procedures and make sure they respect the needs and experiences of students from diverse communities.
Who has the power
School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
Source
Platform 2026, page 63
21. ### Evaluate school liaison and police partnerships The Greens would evaluate the role and structure of any school liaison or police partnership based on student safety, evidence, community input and the Board's educational mandate.
Who has the power
School Board The board sets policy for its own schools, including outside partnerships.
Source
Platform 2026, page 63
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT ## Where the power sits for this chapter School Board17 City, with others2 Province2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ## Questions about safe, healthy and climate resilient schools
How many Vancouver school buildings are at high seismic risk, according to the Green Party of Vancouver? The Green Party of Vancouver says 43 of 106 VSB buildings remain at high seismic risk and puts the estimated cost at $1.63 billion. The party would keep seismic safety at the top of capital priorities and ask the Province to approve and fund outstanding projects (platform, page 61).
Does the Green Party of Vancouver want to stop AI chatbots in schools? The Green Party of Vancouver would request a pause on AI chatbots in schools. The Greens say the pause would allow consultation with students, parents and educators and a full review of policy and procedures, including ethics and effects on learning (platform, page 63).
What would the Vancouver Greens do about overcrowding at King George Secondary? The Greens would put King George Secondary first in capital planning, saying it is at 166% capacity, along with Carr Elementary, which the party says is over capacity and using portables. They would work with the City and Province so new neighbourhood growth comes with enough school space (platform, page 61).
How would the Green Party of Vancouver protect students from extreme heat and wildfire smoke? The Green Party of Vancouver would prepare every school for extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding and power outages, seek provincial money for heat pumps and ventilation during renewals, and give limited retrofit money first to the schools most at risk from heat (platform, page 62).
Where do the Vancouver Greens stand on police liaison officers in schools? The Greens would evaluate the role and structure of any school liaison or police partnership based on student safety, evidence, community input and the Board's educational mandate. The platform commits to that evaluation and names those four tests (platform, page 63).
Who pays for seismic upgrades to Vancouver schools under the Green plan? The Green Party of Vancouver says outstanding seismic projects need provincial approval and funding, and it would ask the Province for both. The board's part is to keep seismic safety at the top of its capital priorities (platform, page 61).
What are the Greens' Miyawaki forest pilots for Vancouver schools? The Green Party of Vancouver would develop Miyawaki pilots with the Park Board, which the platform says would speed up forest growth. The party would also create a shade inventory for key schools and use it to decide where to plant trees (platform, page 62).
ON THE BALLOT ## The Green Party of Vancouver candidates behind this ### School Board [303**Alisha Masongsong**Ballot 303](https://voche.me/candidates/alisha-masongsong) [330**Julie Strilesky**Ballot 330](https://voche.me/candidates/julie-strilesky) ## Sources Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it. 1. [Platform 2026, Green Party of Vancouver (72-page PDF, last updated September 29, 2026) ](https://assets.nationbuilder.com/vangreens/pages/6122/attachments/original/1790718545/Platform_2026_-_Green_Party_of_Vancouver_%281%29.pdf?1790718545#page=61)SAYS SO ITSELFGreen Party of Vancouver · pages 61 to 63 · published September 29, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.