VTT is facing a host of challenges
- CAPACITY. We are operating beyond capacity and have had to turn Jewish families away. We are using closets for offices and hallways for classrooms. The lack of space to grow is especially acute in our thriving Early Years program, which is the foundation of our future enrollment, our community and is a key factor in VTT’s continued financial stability.
- Educational Excellence. We deliver outstanding programs in art, music, drama and physical education, but lack the space and flexible learning environments we need for those programs to reach their potential.
- Competitiveness. Other private schools in our area have recently invested tens of millions of dollars – each – to upgrade their facilities and offerings. Despite VTT’s singular community atmosphere and outstanding educational outcomes, a failure to upgrade our school will make it harder to keep Jewish families from making alternate independent school choices. A loss of competitiveness will weaken our community and erode VTT’s financial stability.
- Parking and traffic flow. VTT lacks safe and sufficient parking for parents, visitors and VTT staff. The City of Vancouver has told us we must address this problem whether we expand the school or not.
- ACCESS FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. VTT’s current facility lacks sufficient access and amenities for students and visitors with disabilities.
- Antiquated infrastructure. VTT’s antiquated physical plant and buildings are challenging to maintain, expensive to operate and don’t meet the needs of our students, faculty and staff.
There are also many opportunities
The building expansion offers a host of significant opportunities for VTT and the Greater Vancouver Jewish community.
- Attention to Early Years. VTT has 128 kids registered in the Early Years program (Pre-3, Pre-4 and Kindergarten) for the 2012/2013 year. With more purpose-built space, VTT can significantly expand its Early Years program and, in turn, enhance its long-term enrollment, financial strength and sustainability.
- Educational Excellence. With new state of the art classrooms and proper space for creative arts programming, physical education, collaborative work, special educational needs, planning and meeting, we can build on our record of educational excellence.
- Room to Play. The expansion offers enhanced outdoor recreation space, and improved play areas for our Early Years students.
- Financial Sustainability. The expansion will contribute to VTT’s financial sustainability by enabling the school to increase total enrollment and distribute operating and programming costs over a larger student population and a more efficient physical plant.
- Competitiveness. VTT must remain competitive with other excellent private schools on the west side, many of which compete for our students and have undertaken significant capital expansion and enhancement projects in recent years.
- Supporting King David High School. VTT is the primary feeder to KDHS. In 2012, 60% of VTT’s graduating class went to KDHS, representing 63% of the KDHS grade eight class.
- Community Identity and Continuity. The benefits of expanded enrollment at VTT will be exponential as more students graduate and take on lasting leadership roles within our community.
