Surrey Board of Education seeks public input for 2026-27 budget
Auto-generated subtitles available in French, Spanish, Arabic,
Tagalog, Punjabi and Simplified Chinese
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 2026-27 school year in the district’s annual budget consultation.
“Each year, we proactively reach out to our school communities and the public to better understand their priorities for the coming school year,” said Terry Allen, Surrey Board of Education Trustee and Chair of the board’s Finance Committee. “This short online survey provides an accessible platform for gathering community feedback, which helps inform how we shape our budget.
“We want to hear from everyone – your feedback in incredibly valuable in guiding the decisions that impact our schools, and we’ll continue engaging our communities online and through more traditional methods.”
Participants are encouraged to provide input through a variety of channels, including:
- An online survey (available in English, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Tagalog, French 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.
Top priorities of last year’s survey included certified teachers for each classroom, support for students with diverse abilities and disabilities, counselling and mental health services, technology support, staff resources, infrastructure maintenance, and a focus on equity and safety.
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 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 March 20, 2026.
