Surrey Board of Education seeks public input for 2024-25 budget
The Surrey Board of Education is seeking input from staff, parents/caregivers and the larger communities of Surrey, White Rock and Barnston Island for the 2024-25 school year in the district’s annual budget consultation.
“Every year, we proactively seek input from our communities to better understand their priorities,” said Terry Allen, Budget Chair of the Surrey Board of Education. “This short online survey serves as a platform for gathering community priorities and feedback, which in turn, inform our budget..”
Participants are encouraged to provide input through a variety of channels, including:
- an online survey (available in English, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Tagalog and Spanish)
- email (consultations@surreyschools.ca)
- traditional mail (14033 92 Ave., Surrey, B.C., V3V 0B7); or
- through your local school's Parent Advisory Council (PAC) representative.
Last year’s survey saw more than 6,400 responses, with top priorities being counselling and mental health services, technology support, career education and support for students with diverse abilities and needs.
While school capacity was listed as a top concern, respondents are reminded that capital funding cannot be taken from other portions of the budget.
“It's worth noting that while we have had to use operating funds in previous years to purchase, move or modify portable classrooms, operating funds cannot be used for constructing new schools or building additions to existing sites,” said Allen. “Instead, these costs are covered through capital funding, which is determined by the Ministry of Education and Child Care, based on the capital submission our district shares in June of each year.”
Priorities identified by the community will be taken into consideration under the ‘special purpose’ portion of the budget (see infographic here) and will not impact the pre-allocated portions already committed to operating and capital costs (i.e. teachers, educational assistants, programs/services, supplies, school construction, additions and seismic upgrades).
For background on the district budget, including where money comes from and how it's spent, click here.
Budget consultation submissions will be accepted until midnight, March 6, 2024.
