FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2017
Charlene Dobie | charlenedobie@gmail.com | 778-899-9151
Cindy Dalglish | cdalglish@shaw.ca | 778-846-2722
MEDIA ADVISORY
Surrey Students Now Looks to the Future of Education in Surrey
Surrey, BC – As the school year gets underway, it’s important to look at what is happening here in Surrey, and to what the future may hold. Encouraged by past interactions, Surrey Students Now would like to continue positive dialogue through a meeting with Minister of Education Rob Fleming.
The Throne Speech and the interim budget identified the Surrey School District as a key priority area for capital funding projects to get schools built. Surrey Students Now has identified some additional priorities for this District.
Schools need to be built now.
Surrey Students Now encourage Minister Fleming to learn from other provinces that have built multiple schools within 1-2 years, and work collaboratively with the City of Surrey and Surrey School District to expedite land acquisition and construction.
Policy needs to change.
The Ministry of Education needs to change its policy regarding capital expenditures. The Surrey School District is past the point of demonstrating “proof of need”. 7000+ students in portables is evidence enough. The Ministry of Education needs to rescind Policy (2.3) that states 'a district must adjust educational programming' and create policy that protects the location and curricular approaches of existing programs, enshrines the individuality of learning, and simply recognizes a child needs a seat in a school building.
The Project Contribution Policy (1.8) is unattainable for the Surrey School District considering the sheer number of capital projects that need to begin immediate construction. The District partially relies on the Site Acquisition Charges for land acquisition revenues, but these charges have not increased since the year 2000. Land value has doubled since that time. The Site Acquisition Charge policy needs to move to a percentage-based amount to stay current to fair market land value.
The Surrey School District is brimming with portables costing ~$4M per year and currently funded out of the operating budget. The Ministry of Education needs to create a new policy stating non-temporary portables will be funded through means other than the operating budget. That ~$4m is better utilized within the school building, as intended.
Policy change is required to encourage equality among programming and furthering the initiative for inclusiveness for children with special needs. The Supreme Court Ruling was only a starting point. It’s time to make inclusion a reality.
Additionally, we ask the Province to take a leadership role in forming a better communication model and plan between the City, the District, and the Province. The unrelenting development without appropriate infrastructure has created chaos across our school system. Surrey students deserve better.
Charlene Dobie | charlenedobie@gmail.com | 778-899-9151
Cindy Dalglish | cdalglish@shaw.ca | 778-846-2722
MEDIA ADVISORY
Surrey Students Now Looks to the Future of Education in Surrey
Surrey, BC – As the school year gets underway, it’s important to look at what is happening here in Surrey, and to what the future may hold. Encouraged by past interactions, Surrey Students Now would like to continue positive dialogue through a meeting with Minister of Education Rob Fleming.
The Throne Speech and the interim budget identified the Surrey School District as a key priority area for capital funding projects to get schools built. Surrey Students Now has identified some additional priorities for this District.
Schools need to be built now.
Surrey Students Now encourage Minister Fleming to learn from other provinces that have built multiple schools within 1-2 years, and work collaboratively with the City of Surrey and Surrey School District to expedite land acquisition and construction.
Policy needs to change.
The Ministry of Education needs to change its policy regarding capital expenditures. The Surrey School District is past the point of demonstrating “proof of need”. 7000+ students in portables is evidence enough. The Ministry of Education needs to rescind Policy (2.3) that states 'a district must adjust educational programming' and create policy that protects the location and curricular approaches of existing programs, enshrines the individuality of learning, and simply recognizes a child needs a seat in a school building.
The Project Contribution Policy (1.8) is unattainable for the Surrey School District considering the sheer number of capital projects that need to begin immediate construction. The District partially relies on the Site Acquisition Charges for land acquisition revenues, but these charges have not increased since the year 2000. Land value has doubled since that time. The Site Acquisition Charge policy needs to move to a percentage-based amount to stay current to fair market land value.
The Surrey School District is brimming with portables costing ~$4M per year and currently funded out of the operating budget. The Ministry of Education needs to create a new policy stating non-temporary portables will be funded through means other than the operating budget. That ~$4m is better utilized within the school building, as intended.
Policy change is required to encourage equality among programming and furthering the initiative for inclusiveness for children with special needs. The Supreme Court Ruling was only a starting point. It’s time to make inclusion a reality.
Additionally, we ask the Province to take a leadership role in forming a better communication model and plan between the City, the District, and the Province. The unrelenting development without appropriate infrastructure has created chaos across our school system. Surrey students deserve better.
Additional Information to Support the Media Release
Building Schools Now
It's clear our District and Province need to get creative when it comes to building new schools, and fast. Surrey Students Now implore Minister Fleming to look at other provinces to see how they have built schools in an expedient manner. Looking at bundling a number of schools and bringing them forward to Treasury Board, having strong communications with the City planning staff to ensure school related permits are approved as a top priority, and reusing school building plans can all expedite the school building process.
Policy Issues
In reviewing the Capital Plan Instructions, Policy 1.8 and 2.3 are of utmost importance.
1.8 Project Contribution Policy states:
"All major projects, other than the least cost option for a seismic mitigation project, require school districts to contribute a 50 percent cost share, including: Site Acquisition School Addition New School School Replacement Seismic Mitigation Project (where a school district chooses to advance a different project scope that is not the least cost option)
The required contribution will be assessed by Government on a case-by-case basis, whereby a lesser proportion may be accepted dependent on financial justification by the school district. The value of the contribution should be determined during the development of the Project Definition Report (PDR). Confirmation of a school district’s contribution will be required prior to the Ministry seeking a project funding decision from Government."
This policy is a reasonable policy for districts with minimal growth or no growth projections, however, in districts like Surrey, cost-sharing with the Provincial government for the number of projects that Surrey requires is not achievable and slows the process of building new schools exponentially. This policy needs to be revised for districts that are in a high growth pattern, such as Surrey. Currently, districts are expected to fund up to 50% of the cost of building, and acquiring land for, a school through their own revenue streams. One such revenue stream is the School Site Acquisition Charge (SSAC), defined as "a charge, per dwelling unit, that is paid by residential developers". The money collected by the City and is used to help pay for new school sites needed as a result of new residential development. The SSAC funding model has not increased since 2000 even though land values have more than doubled. The current maximum is only $1000 per dwelling unit and only for low density areas, a designation that no longer applies to Surrey. This amount should be moved to a percentage base so as land value increases or decreases, the charge is an appropriate amount for the District to use towards land acquisition for schools.
2.3 Due to Restoration of Collective Agreement Language Policy states:
"It is expected that school districts first implement changes within their control to address space needs, such as the remedies available within the agreement, reinstating classrooms which are currently leased out to third-party non-educational tenants (excluding StrongStart BC), changing catchment areas (or restricting enrollment), and adjusting grade configurations and educational programming to make use of all available classroom space."
In Surrey, before the restoration of the Collective Agreement language, we had 275 portables. All available classroom space was already being utilized prior to the language coming back. The District was then further tasked with finding more instructional space, and to now consider non-instructional spaces including, but not limited to, the library, the stage, storage rooms, etc. In some extreme cases, instructional space such as music rooms and computer labs are being transformed into general instruction classrooms. This means the erosion of very valuable curriculum and teachers without classrooms to teach in. Not all schools had to make these concessions, but many did. Further, educational programming such as French Immersion, Traditional, Fine Arts, Montessori, Band, Inter-A, etc. has been eroded through this policy.
The provincial policy surrounding educational programming essentially dictates Surrey District Policy 9200 that states: "Programs of choice will be offered only in space surplus to the needs of the neighbourhood school program." Surrey Students Now believes that every child needs a seat in a school, regardless of program. And that each of these choice programs are vital to meet the needs of the students in them. When the programs are reduced, eliminated, or moved, an unstable environment is created. There needs to be policy created to protect the location and curricular approaches of existing programs and provide continuity for the individuality of learning as per the Diverse Student Needs statement: "Every student is unique. One of the greatest strengths of education in B.C. is the widespread commitment to making sure all students’ individual needs are met so that they can pursue their interests and reach their fullest potential." (http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/support/diverse-student-needs)
Paying for Portables:
Currently, the Surrey School District pays ~$4million out of the operating budgets to fund portables. The purpose of operating budgets is to operate the inside of school buildings - teachers, library resources, balls for the gym, equipment for music, computers, etc. The purpose of capital budgets is to house the operations (i.e. the buildings themselves). Portables are indeed buildings that house the operations however the costs of these portables have been charged to the operating budgets. As a result, Surrey School District children are not receiving ~$4m worth of resources each year. This policy needs to change immediately.
True Inclusion:
In 2002, the class size and composition language was stripped from the collective agreement. Teachers were bargaining for better language surrounding children with special needs to build from this language, but instead, the government at the time, unlawfully removed the language all together. Now that districts have reverted back to the 2002 language and stipulations, parents and educators know many additional changes need to be made towards true inclusion for children with special needs. Surrey Students Now has been informed from numerous sources that not all children with special needs are having their needs met, that the specialist teachers are being asked to take on regular classrooms in a 'teacher on call' capacity, that there are not enough education assistants to meet the needs of children with special needs, and that early intervention is not taking place. Many children are not assessed, and do not get a designation that would qualify them for much needed supports and resources. Accommodations and resources are the vehicle to attaining equal education and must be funded adequately and without cumbersome process. Districts have a responsibility to accommodate. Parents should not have to make it their full-time job to advocate for their children, when the School Act is clear that "the purpose of the British Columbia school system is to enable all learners to become literate, to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society and a prosperous and sustainable economy." Surrey Students Now implores Minister Fleming to work closely with parents and educators to get to true inclusion.
Communication Model
Surrey has a large problem that has only come to light since Surrey Students Now pressed the issue of a lack of communication between the City, the District, and the Province. With the sheer number of children in portables, it's clear that the communication model between the City, District, and Province hasn't been fruitful. While development is important, without infrastructure, it's irresponsible to the citizens living here. Surrey Students Now asks the Province to take the lead and ensure there is appropriate communication and measures in place so that Surrey cannot end up here again in the future.
Building Schools Now
It's clear our District and Province need to get creative when it comes to building new schools, and fast. Surrey Students Now implore Minister Fleming to look at other provinces to see how they have built schools in an expedient manner. Looking at bundling a number of schools and bringing them forward to Treasury Board, having strong communications with the City planning staff to ensure school related permits are approved as a top priority, and reusing school building plans can all expedite the school building process.
Policy Issues
In reviewing the Capital Plan Instructions, Policy 1.8 and 2.3 are of utmost importance.
1.8 Project Contribution Policy states:
"All major projects, other than the least cost option for a seismic mitigation project, require school districts to contribute a 50 percent cost share, including: Site Acquisition School Addition New School School Replacement Seismic Mitigation Project (where a school district chooses to advance a different project scope that is not the least cost option)
The required contribution will be assessed by Government on a case-by-case basis, whereby a lesser proportion may be accepted dependent on financial justification by the school district. The value of the contribution should be determined during the development of the Project Definition Report (PDR). Confirmation of a school district’s contribution will be required prior to the Ministry seeking a project funding decision from Government."
This policy is a reasonable policy for districts with minimal growth or no growth projections, however, in districts like Surrey, cost-sharing with the Provincial government for the number of projects that Surrey requires is not achievable and slows the process of building new schools exponentially. This policy needs to be revised for districts that are in a high growth pattern, such as Surrey. Currently, districts are expected to fund up to 50% of the cost of building, and acquiring land for, a school through their own revenue streams. One such revenue stream is the School Site Acquisition Charge (SSAC), defined as "a charge, per dwelling unit, that is paid by residential developers". The money collected by the City and is used to help pay for new school sites needed as a result of new residential development. The SSAC funding model has not increased since 2000 even though land values have more than doubled. The current maximum is only $1000 per dwelling unit and only for low density areas, a designation that no longer applies to Surrey. This amount should be moved to a percentage base so as land value increases or decreases, the charge is an appropriate amount for the District to use towards land acquisition for schools.
2.3 Due to Restoration of Collective Agreement Language Policy states:
"It is expected that school districts first implement changes within their control to address space needs, such as the remedies available within the agreement, reinstating classrooms which are currently leased out to third-party non-educational tenants (excluding StrongStart BC), changing catchment areas (or restricting enrollment), and adjusting grade configurations and educational programming to make use of all available classroom space."
In Surrey, before the restoration of the Collective Agreement language, we had 275 portables. All available classroom space was already being utilized prior to the language coming back. The District was then further tasked with finding more instructional space, and to now consider non-instructional spaces including, but not limited to, the library, the stage, storage rooms, etc. In some extreme cases, instructional space such as music rooms and computer labs are being transformed into general instruction classrooms. This means the erosion of very valuable curriculum and teachers without classrooms to teach in. Not all schools had to make these concessions, but many did. Further, educational programming such as French Immersion, Traditional, Fine Arts, Montessori, Band, Inter-A, etc. has been eroded through this policy.
The provincial policy surrounding educational programming essentially dictates Surrey District Policy 9200 that states: "Programs of choice will be offered only in space surplus to the needs of the neighbourhood school program." Surrey Students Now believes that every child needs a seat in a school, regardless of program. And that each of these choice programs are vital to meet the needs of the students in them. When the programs are reduced, eliminated, or moved, an unstable environment is created. There needs to be policy created to protect the location and curricular approaches of existing programs and provide continuity for the individuality of learning as per the Diverse Student Needs statement: "Every student is unique. One of the greatest strengths of education in B.C. is the widespread commitment to making sure all students’ individual needs are met so that they can pursue their interests and reach their fullest potential." (http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/support/diverse-student-needs)
Paying for Portables:
Currently, the Surrey School District pays ~$4million out of the operating budgets to fund portables. The purpose of operating budgets is to operate the inside of school buildings - teachers, library resources, balls for the gym, equipment for music, computers, etc. The purpose of capital budgets is to house the operations (i.e. the buildings themselves). Portables are indeed buildings that house the operations however the costs of these portables have been charged to the operating budgets. As a result, Surrey School District children are not receiving ~$4m worth of resources each year. This policy needs to change immediately.
True Inclusion:
In 2002, the class size and composition language was stripped from the collective agreement. Teachers were bargaining for better language surrounding children with special needs to build from this language, but instead, the government at the time, unlawfully removed the language all together. Now that districts have reverted back to the 2002 language and stipulations, parents and educators know many additional changes need to be made towards true inclusion for children with special needs. Surrey Students Now has been informed from numerous sources that not all children with special needs are having their needs met, that the specialist teachers are being asked to take on regular classrooms in a 'teacher on call' capacity, that there are not enough education assistants to meet the needs of children with special needs, and that early intervention is not taking place. Many children are not assessed, and do not get a designation that would qualify them for much needed supports and resources. Accommodations and resources are the vehicle to attaining equal education and must be funded adequately and without cumbersome process. Districts have a responsibility to accommodate. Parents should not have to make it their full-time job to advocate for their children, when the School Act is clear that "the purpose of the British Columbia school system is to enable all learners to become literate, to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society and a prosperous and sustainable economy." Surrey Students Now implores Minister Fleming to work closely with parents and educators to get to true inclusion.
Communication Model
Surrey has a large problem that has only come to light since Surrey Students Now pressed the issue of a lack of communication between the City, the District, and the Province. With the sheer number of children in portables, it's clear that the communication model between the City, District, and Province hasn't been fruitful. While development is important, without infrastructure, it's irresponsible to the citizens living here. Surrey Students Now asks the Province to take the lead and ensure there is appropriate communication and measures in place so that Surrey cannot end up here again in the future.
| Capital Plan Policies |
| School Site Acquisition Charge Policy |
| District Policy 9200 |
| School Act |