Your Petition Update: Progress and Next Steps

Dear Supporters,

Thank you to each and every one of the 105 of you who have signed this petition. Your support means the world to me. Should we rest? No! There is strength in numbers, and sometimes collective action is needed to make change. Thank you for continuing to share this petition and amplify this message.

Now, onto some updates for you all.

Firstly, we're thrilled to share that School District 42 has taken a positive step forward by issuing an email inviting feedback from students, staff, and families on accessibility barriers within the district. This is a commendable move in the right direction, but there is still much more to be done.

You can actively contribute to this progress by participating in the survey provided by the school district. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping a more inclusive environment for all. Here's the link to the survey: SD42 Accessibility Survey

In the survey, you'll have the opportunity to highlight specific barriers you've encountered. To assist you in providing constructive feedback, we'd like to share some suggestions based on our observations. Feel free to copy paste and adjust to suit you: 

Highland Park Elementary currently faces significant accessibility challenges. The Kindergarten playground on the west side of the school, while having a 'ramp to nowhere', lacks adequate accessibility features. Furthermore, the North and East playgrounds, where the majority of students play, present insurmountable barriers for individuals with physical disabilities. The over-30-year-old East playground, in particular, is encased by a large wooden barrier filled with loose pebbles, rendering it inaccessible and unsafe. Moreover, the equipment on the East playground is outdated, with none of it designed for inclusive or universally accessible play.

Your input is crucial in advocating for meaningful change within our school district. Together, we can ensure that every community member has equal access to education and recreational facilities.

The survey will ask for your specific ideas to solve this problem. Here you can share your brilliant ideas. Please also feel free to save some ideas from our petition:

Highland Park Elementary should go back to its original fundraising plan of raising $165,000 + grants for things like rubberized flooring to build a universally accessible and inclusive playground for all. We further suggest a proper vote of the HPE PAC, which is announced before commencing, so that all voting members can decide whether to keep the original $20,000 fundraiser in the bank and continue towards this goal rather than spending it on one piece of equipment that is not universally accessible.

Once you have completed the survey, please share this petition with your network in Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge (SD42) so that they too may have their voice heard and continue to receive valuable updates on our collective efforts. 

Finally, as promised, I will share with the school principal, school PAC executive, and assistant superintendent in charge of Highland Park Elementary, that we have 105 people interested in continuing the fundraising efforts of the HPE East Playground Reboot!

Thank you once again for your unwavering support and dedication to this cause. Let's continue to work together towards a more inclusive future.

Warm regards,