Vancouver's district parent advisory council says there is still time to try and save the schools set for closure within the Vancouver School Board.

On Wednesday, the board gave notice that 11 schools, made up of annexes and elementary schools mostly on Vancouver's east side, could be closed to address a multi-million dollar shortfall.

A 12th school, Garibaldi Annex, could also be on the chopping block. The school district will reassess its status once September enrolment numbers are in.

"It's horrifying that this is something we're going to have to face," said Julianne Doctor of the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC).

Doctor believes the cuts will bring parents together to fight the changes.

"Even just the whiff of closure really galvanizes communities and that's where we really start to see the strong support."

But the school board insists it is the Ministry of Education that is insisting upon the closures.

"The minister wants closures," VSB Chair Patti Bacchus told a budget meeting Wednesday night.

"She's made that very clear that want to see cuts and closure she wants boards to make tough decisions. I'm not convinced that they're wise decisions."

Trustee Mike Lombardi says Vancouver's situation isn't unique and other districts are also feeling the pinch.

"Even districts like Surrey, which is growing in enrollment, has had to cut $12-million from its budget this year so clearly there's a structural problem," he said.

The board approved its 2010-2011 school year budget at a meeting Wednesday night, with an amendment saving some positions based on money it hopes to receive from the province. About 137 other jobs were lost.

The schools being told to brace for closure are:

  • Graham D. Bruce Elementary
  • Carleton Elementary
  • Champlain Heights Annex
  • Collingwood Neighbourhood (Bruce Annex)
  • Charles Dickens Annex
  • Hudson Elementary
  • Kerrisdale Annex
  • Sir William Macdonald Elementary
  • Sir Richard McBride Annex
  • Queen Alexandra Elementary
  • Admiral Seymour Elementary

A final decision on the potential closures will be made by the end of December. District staff members say they will need at least 60 days to provide a more detailed report on each school.