The year in education in Surrey school district was eventful, to say the least.
It began with the school board taking shots at the provincial government and ended with trustees concerned about a somewhat strained relationship with the municipality itself, just two weeks shy of the new year.
At April’s regular board meeting, trustees took their first opportunity to publicly voice their frustrations with the education ministry. It was also the first time many in the district heard about double-decker portables. Surrey’s portable problem is not a new one, but with the province’s largest school district nearing 400 portables in use, it was acknowledged that a solution must be found.
RELATED: Government ‘can’t continue to ignore the needs of the Surrey school district’, says school board
This moment set the tone for the remainder of the year, as not only the number of portables in the district made headlines, but the issues surrounding their use did as well.
From parents expressing concerns about isolation, educators raising the issue of accessibility, students having to wear jackets and gloves during winter months because of a lack of heat, there seemed to always be a newsworthy story involving these temporary classrooms.
RELATED: Lack of heat in some Surrey portables has students learning in jackets, gloves
RELATED: Surrey schools infrastructure at a ‘crisis’ as city calls for solutions
While the city of Surrey and trustees were on the same page, both calling Surrey’s limited school infrastructure a “crisis,” the partnership ran into a bit of trouble in recent days.
Each year, the district submits a capital projects plan to the city. Then, if approved, the plan is forwarded to the province for funding decisions and approval. But on Dec. 4, council rejected the districts 2024-25 plan – something that has never happened before.
Trustees said they were blindsided by council’s decision. A facilitator will now be called to mediate between the two parties, to help them come to a resolution.
RELATED: Surrey schools trustees blindsided as council rejects district capital plan
This year’s education wrap-up would not be complete without a mention of the controversial topic of SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) in schools.
What began with question periods at board meetings being overtaken by questions regarding SOGI, eventually led to a board meeting ending early due to security concerns. An anti-SOGI protest was then held in June.
“This particular group, the anti-SOGI group has been visiting every district throughout the province. They’ve been disrupting almost every meeting and it’s been volatile for all of the districts that have had to deal with it,” board chair Laurie Larsen told PAN at the time.
RELATED: ‘Aggressive’ anti-SOGI protest forces Surrey school trustees to cut meeting short
While the issue is not exclusive to Surrey or even B.C., the protests amped up in the area for the remainder of the year and even resulted in a petition filed against education minister Rachna Singh to be recalled from her position.
The petition, which claims students are being “sexualized” in Surrey’s schools due to SOGI, was approved by Elections BC on Nov. 24. The petitioner has until Jan. 29, 2024 to collect signatures from more than 40 per cent of eligible voters registered in the Surrey-Green Timbers riding for it to proceed.
RELATED: Petition to recall B.C. education minister approved by Elections BC
In November, trustees voted unanimously to amend its question period policy to allow the public to ask questions pertaining only to that meeting’s agenda topics.
Asked why the question period policy is being changed, Trustee Gary Tymoschuk said the idea to revise the policy has been in plan for at least four years. After looking at how question periods are conducted in other districts, “we asked each other ‘how come ours is different from the others?’
“I think it helps to create a more timely feedback, if any, pertaining to the items that were discussed at that meeting.”
RELATED: Question period now limited to Surrey school board meeting’s agenda topics
To help combat over-crowding in Surrey and White Rock schools, a number of additions have opened in the district, with more space being built, or announced, while new school sites will be added for students in years to come.
Ta’talu Elementary, still under construction in South Surrey, is expected to open its doors for enrolment in 2025, while a South Newton area school to be called Snokomish Elementary broke ground this year, with an expected opening in 2026.
Additions attached to existing schools opened at K.B. Woodward Elementary, while South Meridian and Semiahmoo Trail elementaries each have new space under construction.
RELATED: New school additions in Surrey open, under construction
For a district of roughly 83,000 students, creating enough class space is a challenge. So much so, that the district is considering making some significant changes to how students learn, including night classes, school during summer months for some students and busing students from one catchment to a school in a different one. A survey seeking feedback on possible solutions was sent out to parents in November.
READ MORE: Feedback sought on possible changes to address Surrey schools over-crowding
There were also some celebrations this year as school community members made laudable achievements.
Notably, Surrey high school teacher Annie Ohana reached the Top 10 worldwide for the Global Teacher Prize. Although the L.A. Matheson Secondary teacher was ultimately not the winner, Ohana was thrilled to be nominated for a chance to win US$1 million for her school.
A social justice teacher and department head of Indigenous studies at her school, Ohana’s teaching process aims to support the large groups of racialized students who attend her “inner-city school.”
READ MORE: Surrey teacher only Canadian in Top 10 for US$1 million global award