Surrey School Funding Crisis

The White Rock Learning Center (WRLC), which serves at-risk and alternative learning students, is set to close at the end of the 2024-2025 school year in June 2025. The decision was announced to the school, confirming that students will be transferred back to mainstream schools next year. The lease for the building is set to expire in June, and the district has decided not to renew it due to budget constraints.

Students and parents argue that this decision will disproportionately harm those who need extra learning support. The school board has defended the closure, citing financial challenges and low enrollment as the main reasons.

In response, a Facebook group, 'Saving the Learning Centers,' was created to rally support and protest against the closure.

In Surrey, high schools are set to introduce hybrid classes, blending in-person and online learning, to address rapid student population growth and space constraints in schools. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, this program will be available for students in Grades 10 to 12 as an optional choice​

A petition was started by a parent addressed 'To the Surrey School District: Opposing Permanent Hybrid Learning for High School Students.

📌 Key Facts

Over 300 portables are currently in use across the district.

Portables are meant to be temporary, but due to overcrowding, many schools rely on them permanently. New school construction is slow, meaning the number of portables continues to grow.

📌 Why Are Portables Used?

Surrey’s student population has grown rapidly, surpassing 83,000 students in 2024. Funding for new schools has not kept pace with enrollment increases.Portables help accommodate extra students, especially in high-growth areas.

📌 Challenges & Concerns

Portables are not ideal learning environments, with issues like limited space, temperature control, and lack of permanent facilities.

Some schools have more students in portables than in actual buildings, leading to disruptions and safety concerns.

Parents and teachers have raised concerns, urging the BC government to speed up school construction instead of relying on portables.

A petition was started titled 'Expedite Portable Delivery & Find a Long-Term School Expansion Solution for Surrey Schools.

Surrey secondary students and families face a tough year as overcrowding measures take effect.

The plan splits students into two blocks, with some starting earlier and others later, increasing school capacity by 10-15%.

Staggered start times will impact Kwantlen, Grandview, Lord Tweedsmuir, Tamanawis, and Fleetwood Park, where first classes begin at 8 a.m., and Salish Secondary, where classes start at 7:55 a.m. Some students will begin an hour later and finish later.

Some families struggle to adjust, unsure how they will manage.

A petition was started against extended school hours.

Initially, the Surrey School District proposed cutting the StrongStart program due to budget constraints. This led to significant community protests and advocacy for the preservation of the program. In response to this pressure, the district identified a viable short-term solution in 2024, allowing the continuation of StrongStart in 23 schools, down from 25. Despite this temporary resolution, the district later announced a $16 million budget shortfall, highlighting ongoing financial challenges and placing the program at continued risk of cuts. A petition was started to 'Prevent the Cancellation of the StrongStart Program in Surrey, BC.

A petition was started to "Prevent the Cancellation of StrongStart Program in Surrey, BC"

In Surrey, the school district faced substantial budget constraints that led to significant cuts in school bus services. Initially, these services were limited only to students with the most complex needs, such as those who are blind, deaf, physically dependent, or enrolled in specialized intervention programs. As a result, many students who previously relied on bus transportation were no longer eligible, causing difficulties for families, particularly those with full-time working parents or limited transportation options. The district's decision highlighted ongoing financial challenges and sparked discussions about the necessity of reliable transportation for students' access to education and overall safety.

A petition was started to "Reestablish School Bus Services in Surrey, BC, Canada"

🔹 What’s Happening:

The Surrey School District will eliminate up to 50 full-time Inclusive Education Support Worker (IESW) positions (also known as education assistants) through attrition — meaning vacancies from retirement or resignation will not be refilled.

The district currently employs around 1,677 IESWs across 126+ schools.

Trustees say this is due to inadequate funding from the B.C. Ministry of Education, despite increasing student enrolment and inflation.

🔹 Union & Staff Reaction:

CUPE 728 president Tammy Murphy called the move “devastating,” noting that many students already lack proper support, and this will make things worse.

She said over 1,000 IESW workdays per month are already going unfilled.

Murphy criticized the decision to cut frontline staff instead of management or high-salary roles.

🔹 Changing Roles of EAs:

The district has reportedly told IESWs they will no longer provide academic support, and will instead focus only on personal care and behavioral support.

Murphy argued that this undermines the fundamental role of education assistants: to help students learn.

🔹 Budget Details:

The 2025 operating budget is $933 million, up from $912 million in 2024 — but the increase only covers student growth and existing labor agreements, not service expansion.

🔹 Next Steps:

CUPE 728 plans to request another meeting with Education Minister Lisa Beare, and continue talks with the district and national unions.

The union is pushing for reinvestment in student services and a reversal of the cuts.

🔹 What’s Happening:

At least two elementary schools in Surrey—Northridge and Ellendale—are experiencing paper shortages, according to concerned parents.

Students are reportedly being told to copy questions from projectors, share worksheets (1 per 5 students), or use scrap paper for tests.

🔹 Parent Reactions:

A parent at Northridge wrote to the district describing the issue and attributing it to budget cuts.

At Ellendale, parent Alison Speed organized a bottle drive to raise money for paper supplies, noting that only a small group of parents are able to help financially.

🔹 School & District Response:

Surrey Schools declined formal comment but said the issue is not district-wide, and individual schools manage their own budgets.

Teachers’ union president Lizanne Foster disagreed, saying it’s likely a widespread problem across many schools.

“This is a symptom of chronic underfunding. It directly impacts teaching and learning.” — Lizanne Foster