Board approves staff to update Long Range Facilities Plan
The Surrey Board of Education has approved the recommendation from staff to update the district's Long Range Facilities Plan, an extensive document that outlines Surrey and White Rock's enrolment and capacity needs over the next five to 10 years.
The Surrey Board of Education has voted in favour of updating the district’s Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP), a comprehensive “living document” analyzing the enrolment and capacity needs of B.C.’s largest school district over the next five to 10 years.
Last updated in 2019, the LRFP forms the basis for the district’s annual capital plan process in prioritizing and seeking funding for new schools and additions to address overcrowding and rapid enrolment growth. While the 2019 edition is thorough and remains accurate in many regards, the district has seen significant changes in increased development and accelerated growth beyond previous projections, with the student population estimated to reach up to 91,000 students by 2030.
According to Capital Project Office (CPO) executive director Dave Riley, the sharp increase in enrolment is largely due to the aftereffects of the pandemic and immigration policy changes, with more new Canadians expected in the foreseeable future. Additionally, Riley said the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain expansion will lead to more family-oriented development along Fraser Highway, putting further strain on capacity issues for schools along the transit corridor.
“We will continue to work closely with the city to better understand the current and future growth plans in all areas of Surrey,” said Riley, noting the district consults regularly with city staff. “Doing an in-depth analysis on the long-term impacts of developments is very valuable, and gives us a sense of which neighborhoods will continue to see increases in families and school-aged students.
“Through the LRFP update, we would focus on capital solutions to our problems, however, we would also consider any other solutions that the board may wish us to look at.”
Riley offered a timeline for the proposed collaboration, with the CPO, City of Surrey, City of White Rock and TransLink consulting through the summer before updating the board in October and initiating public engagement through December or January. In February, the CPO will present a report on the public engagement, followed by the final updated LRFP at the May 2024 board meeting.
Prior to board approval, Trustee Terry Allen expressed his concern with the pace of development – citing proposals for 30 apartment towers in Fleetwood. He commended district staff for continuing to put together informative reports like the LRFP despite ongoing challenges and fast-changing circumstances.
Following questions from Supt. Mark Pearmain and Trustee Gary Thind on other neighbourhoods of Surrey and White Rock that will be covered in the LRFP, Riley noted Clayton, Newton, South Surrey and White Rock will also be areas of focus.
Riley said South Surrey and White Rock remain important for projections as the area continues to see rapid growth, and the district is working with the city on an updated land use plan for the King George Boulevard corridor through Newton, which will be part of the summer consultation. He also highlighted that Clayton is receiving two SkyTrain stations, adding the district recently consulted with the city on their land use plan for the area.
Board Vice-Chair Gary Tymoschuk echoed comments from fellow trustees, acknowledging the need for accurate long-range projections to continue to guide the district’s capital projects and ensure adequate classroom space for Surrey and White Rock’s booming populations.
“Sometimes the information we get still doesn’t help us make the projections we need to forecast the infrastructure we’ll require in the future,” said Tymoschuk. “We want to be as accurate as we can – we’ll probably never be 100% but certainly we want to make sure we’re as close as possible as we move forward so we can make decisions about where schools need to be.”
