Surrey Schools is making new service investments in the district following years of budget and program cuts.

Surrey Board of Education trustee Terry Allen said School District 36 is hiring 40 inclusive educational support workers (ISEWs) and expanding a mental health and support program to 14 of its 21 high schools.

“We’re … basically putting in the funding to those students that need it the most,” said Allen.

The budget for the next school year is roughly $1.2 billion. A treasurer’s report from Wednesday night’s school board meeting said an operating fund shortfall of about $3.8 million is expected next year.

Allen said the shortfall “can be offset by surplus and remaining funds from this year.”

Meanwhile, next year’s capital budget projects a $2.1 million surplus, due to funding received for future land acquisitions.

Years of budget and program cuts

Last year, Surrey Schools posted a nearly $16-million deficit, and it made cuts to close the gap.

Some of those measures included ending a Grade 7 band program, reducing bus services, closing the White Rock Learning Centre and laying off support workers.

New hires are coming next year, but Surrey District Parent Advisory Council (Surrey DPAC) president Anne Whitmore said schools and students are still at a loss.

“While 40 new ISEWs are great, It doesn’t match the 52 that were cut from last year,” said Whitmore.

Dropping enrolment poses future challenges

The school board expects enrolment to drop by about 900 students next year, and it’s expecting enrolment to drop by about 1,000 more by 2028.

Allen attributes the drop in enrolment to changes in federal immigration policy, saying it has “impacted Surrey hugely.”

Allen said since the district gets provincial funding on a per pupil basis, the effect on future finances can be considerable.

“Every child that doesn’t show up for the school district — it’s $9,000 per student. And that’s a lot of money,” said Allen.

B.C. Minister of Education and Childcare Lisa Beare was unavailable for an interview Thursday afternoon. Her office said in an email that more than $1-billion in operating and special grants has gone to the Surrey School District this school year, adding the allocation is “more than any other district in B.C.”

“This public funding goes directly to Surrey’s board of education, and they decide how best to direct resources and supports where they are needed most,” the email continued.

Allen said the province is leaving out inflationary pressure in their funding model.

“So when you’ve got a district the size of this — 82,000 students, 125 schools, plus no additional funding for inflation — it’s bizarre,” he said.

Meanwhile, Whitmore said there’s no accountability between Surrey Schools and the ministry.

“When we go to the school district, they say that they don’t have enough funds from the Ministry of Education. When we go to the Ministry of Education, they say, ‘Never have we ever invested more money in education and districts need to handle their money better,’” said Whitmore.