Supports for students with diverse needs will continue to be impacted in Surrey as the school district looks to cut $16 million worth of programs and services.

"Now we have to dismantle a school district, not build a school district," Terry Allen, vice-chair of the Surrey school board, said in an interview with Peace Arch News. "We have to, by law, provide a balanced budget, there's no way around it."

In an morning (Feb. 28), trustees said they are having trouble balancing the budget for the 2025-26 school year. As a result, the district is facing a $16-million shortfall.

While Education Minister Lisa Beare did not agree to an interview, a statement provided to Peace Arch News says the ministry is committed to providing students with "inclusive, quality learning environment that supports them to achieve their best."

That may not be the case, however, as in Surrey, cuts continue to come down on students.

"At this point to get to $16 million, a lot of things are on the table along with White Rock Learning Centre, Grade 7 band, non-enrolling teachers, supports to special needs students 鈥� they're all on the table, there's no question," Allen emphasized.

Non-enrolling teachers are helping teachers who work with teachers, administrators and other district employees to provide support to a variety of students. There are a variety of helping teachers in the district, including Indigenous helping teachers, inclusive learning helping teachers, SOGI helping teachers and more to support the various needs of students and teaching staff in Surrey.

These teachers will be placed back in classrooms.

"The programs that those non-enrolling teachers provide are huge, they've been built up over years, but they're not funded so there's no choice but to move those," Allen said.

"I can't see ministry providing any additional funding. They haven't in the past, so I can't see why they would now. Hopefully they'd review the funding formula to review these issues at some time."

According to the trustee, there is no protection in the funding model to account for inflationary changes. 

The minister defends the province by claiming that funding has steadily increased since 2017 and that Surrey receives the highest budget of any school district in B.C. But with a $16 million shortfall, that doesn't seem to be enough for the province's largest school district.

鈥淲hile school districts manage their budgets, my ministry is committed to working collaboratively with all districts to ensure funding is utilized as effectively as possible to support students' success now and into the future,鈥� Beare's statement concludes.

To balance the budget is "an awful balancing act," for the board, and the recent learning centre closures are just one part of it, the trustee stated.

"There isn't one trustee on the board that doesn't understand any and all of the impact these changes will make."

When asked whether recent trends indicate more vulnerable students will continue to be impacted, the trustee did not mince words.

"Yes, to put it bluntly," he said.

"The board will work to make sure that the most vulnerable are taken care of. That's what we did in the busing process, but it always seems that way."

If a program or service is not fully funded by the Ministry of Education, then it is at risk for significant cuts, he added.

"Last year we wrestled with moving $4 million out of busing to special needs students. You can only imagine how much each of those stories that parents bring to you (PAN) resonate with the board. It's critical that people understand it resonates with the board deeply, these are not easy decisions.

"We don't spend any money that isn't needed."

The issue of StrongStart is on the table again, and unless funding comes forward, there will be reductions in the StrongStart program, too.

The cuts coming down to students next year are "heartbreaking," Allen said, adding that this is not what the board wanted to do but simply has to.

Trustees will continue to lobby the government for more funding, he added.