Previous Government Neglected Surrey’s Growth, We’re Playing Catch-Up — Minister Rachna Singh
SURREY: The ballooning population in Surrey Schools has led three schools to close admissions even for in-catchment students.
At the March 13 Surrey Board of Education public meeting, Deputy Supt. Andrew Holland provided an update on enrolment, noting that since the Sept. 30 enrolment tally, the district has grown by an additional 1,563 students, to a total of 83,401.
“This rapid growth is putting pressure on the Surrey School District,” said Holland, noting it has affected certain schools more than others. “This spring, we have more kindergarten registrations at Latimer Road Elementary than that school can accommodate, and as a result, the district is closing Latimer Road Elementary to in-catchment students where there is not space at a particular grade level, and redirecting these students to Hillcrest Elementary or Katzie Elementary.”
Board Chair Laurie Larsen warned that Latimer Road Elementary will likely not be the only school forced to turn away new in-catchment students, as the district grapples with the ongoing growing pains of accelerated enrolment. Bayridge Elementary and Grandview Heights Secondary are already closed to students living in-catchment, and she predicts that list may grow.
“Hopefully there are not other schools this spring where we will have to redirect students, but when enrolment increases beyond our capacity, we have to look at other means to accommodate students’ educational needs.”
“I did an interview in December, we were talking about growth in Surrey, and I made the comment that there will come a day when we’ll have to say, ‘Our doors our closed,’” said Larsen. “It’s unfortunate, but unless we get more capital, this is going to be an ongoing issue for the district.”
The Board observed that limited funding for new schools has worsened the issue. According to the Board, “Limited new funding for new schools and additions has exacerbated enrolment issues, leading to alternative solutions such as extended day schedules at five secondary schools and prefabricated additions at three elementary schools to accommodate swelling enrolment.”
Holmes noted that the district has had to use funding from the operating budget to pay for portables and portions of some capital projects – funds that could otherwise be used for other important operating costs – and fellow Trustee Terry Allen echoed Holmes’ concerns of balancing enrolment without further capital investment.
Surrey Schools began the 2023-24 school year with 3,089 new students, a 3.9% increase and well above the traditional growth of about 800 students per year. Based on trends from last year, Holland said the district is on track to grow by another 2,200 to 2,500 students this September.
BC’s Education Minister Rachana Singh while responding to this latest development contextualized the situation historically, attributing the strain to inadequate investment by the previous government. “Previous government did not invest in Surrey the way they were expected to. They sold more than 40 educational properties. Surrey has been growing for years. But no planning was done. We are playing catch-up,” she said in an interview with The Link.
Singh underscored the current government’s efforts to address these challenges, highlighting investments in new schools and expansions totaling over $750 million. She said, “Over the past six years, the Province has invested significantly in new and expanded schools in Surrey with more than $750 million to create 12,400 new student seats. Construction is currently underway for the new Snokomish Elementary and Ta’talu Elementary, and additions to Semiahmoo Trail Elementary and South Meridian Elementary. In 2023, school additions opened at K.B. Woodward Elementary, Morgan Elementary, White Rock Elementary and Sunnyside Elementary with funding announced to expand Tamanawis Secondary, Guildford Park Secondary and Kwantlen Park Secondary school.”
In fall of 2023, the Province also provided funding to start prefabricated additions at Walnut Road, Lena Shaw, and Woodland Park elementary schools to help meet increased enrolment in the school district. The prefabricated classrooms will deliver 875 new seats and are expected to be ready for students this fall.
Budget 2024 includes $3.75 billion for school capital projects over the next three years, including new and expanded schools, seismic upgrades and replacements, and land purchases for future schools.
Two new Surrey school projects are planned to move forward as part of Budget 2024, including a new school and an addition. “A new Darts Hill area elementary and an addition to Grandview Heights Secondary are supported to begin planning as part of Budget 2024, which is the largest school capital budget in the Province’s history,” she informed.
Singh said that she understands the discomfort of parents who have to take their children to a distant school, but as a minister, the focus is always on ensuring every child gets quality education. “As a mother myself, I want quality education for my kids. We are proud of BC’s education system which is considered one of the best in the country. Anytime a change happens it puts a burden on the family. But our focus is to ensure children get quality education.”
