On Tuesday November 21, 2018 the BC government announced a $166.7 million funding investment plan for opening new schools in Surrey and expanding existing schools. This announcement will create 7,000 additional spaces for Surrey students to move from portables to real classrooms.
The Surrey School Board has been working with the BC government to accelerate school construction, a much needed infrastructure investment in Surrey.
“The Surrey Board of Trade has been advocating and speaking to the BC government for years to pay attention to Surrey and its youth. Thousands of K-12 students in Surrey are learning in portables for the 2018-2019 school season,” said Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade. “With this new announcement, Surrey’s children are one step closer to better outcomes and quality learning.”
The Surrey Board of Trade has been at the front lines to instigate change over many years to remove portables and build school infrastructure for Surrey’s student population. “There is still more work to be done as Surrey has the largest school district in BC, and the city’s population continues to grow by 800-1,000 people a month.” Anita Huberman stated. “The Surrey Board of Trade also looks forward to how a new funding model will better support vulnerable students, including children in care, children with special needs and Indigenous students.”
Education is a business concern. It is imperative that our future workforce have access to quality education in appropriate school infrastructure to ensure optimal productivity in our workplaces when students are ready.
With over 6,000 business contacts the Surrey Board of Trade ensures that all aspects of economic development are considered when pursuing policy to instigate change at the different levels of government.
-30-
