Surrey Board of Education seeks public input for 2025-26 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 2025-26 school year in the district’s annual budget consultation.
“Every year, we ask our school communities and the public on what’s important to them so that we may better understand their priorities and explore how we can address them through our budget,” said Terry Allen, Vice-Chair of the Surrey Board of Education and Chair of the board’s Finance Committee. “This short online survey serves as a platform for gathering community priorities and feedback, which in turn, inform our budget for the coming school year.”
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 6,700 responses, with top priorities being counselling and mental health services, technology support, supplies and equipment, career education and support for students with diverse abilities and disabilities.
While school capacity was listed as a top concern, respondents are reminded that operating funds cannot be used for constructing new schools or additions. Though the district has had to use operating funds in previous years to purchase, move or modify portable classrooms, the costs for building new students spaces are covered through capital funding, which is determined by the Ministry of Education and Child Care based on the district’s Five-Year Capital Plan, submitted each June.
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 through Feb. 27, 2025.
