British ColumbiaThe surplus from the 2024-25 year comes just months after the school board cut Grade 7 band and educational assistant staffing, but its chair says the funds wouldn’t be enough to sustain those expenses.District chair says money wouldn’t be enough to bring back and sustain programs cut last springLauren Vanderdeen · CBC News · Posted: Sep 19, 2025 11:09 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 hours agoThe Surrey School Board has announced a $33-million surplus from the 2024-25 school year. (Ben Nelms/CBC)The Surrey School Board has announced a $33-million surplus from last school year.The school board plans to use about $21 million of the funds for “long overdue” upgrades to the district’s computer systems for its business operations, according to board chair Gary Tymoschuk.The remaining $12 million will be set aside as a rainy day fund for unplanned costs, such as when harsher-than-expected winters lead to higher heating and snow removal costs.Tymoschuk said it’s important to note the surplus represents about three per cent of the district’s overall budget.”The province requires school boards to make sure they have a reserve or surplus of between one and three per cent at the end of the year,” Tymoschuk said.Just months ago, however, the school district saw a shortfall and cut $16 million in programs, including Grade 7 band and educational assistant staffing.Gary Tymoschuk, chair of the Surrey School Board, says their surplus will go to upgrading computer systems and a rainy day fund. (CBC News)Tymoschuk said the $16-million shortfall was part of the budgeting process for the upcoming school year (2025-26), while the $33-million surplus was part of last year’s budget (2024-25).But Tymoschuk said the surplus money can’t be used to bring back the cut programs, as the money would quickly run out.”We’d have to lay off staff because we [wouldn’t] be able to sustain those kinds of expenses,” he said.Teachers, parents want more front-line supportThe president of the Surrey Teachers’ Association, Amrit Sanghe, said teachers are facing difficult classroom realities this year.”The rainy days are here,” she said.Amrit Sanghe, president of the Surrey Teachers’ Association, says ‘the rainy days are here’ for Surrey teachers, and they need any extra funding they can get now. (CBC News)”If there’s any extra money, it needs to be going to support the front lines of the classrooms,” Sanghe said. “We’re here to support having an inclusive and safe learning environment, and we’re just not able to do that.”But Sanghe also noted the importance of upgrading technology.”There’s a shift away from textbooks, and so students need those devices, teachers need devices to promote that type of learning.”Sanghe said the province needs a better funding model, particularly to better fund students with disabilities.Anne Whitmore, president of the Surrey District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC), said parents are aware of how under-resourced schools are.”PACs are being asked to supplement more and more in schools for technology and for extracurriculars,” she said. ” And we see less resources and people available.”WATCH | Surrey School Board asks for donations ahead of school year: Surrey School Board anticipates greater need for family support this school yearAs families prepare to get their children back to school, the Surrey School Board is asking for donations as it anticipates more people will need support this year. School Board Chair Gary Tymoschuck spoke to CBC News about the main expenses families are struggling to pay this year. Whitmore said the school budgeting process is not intuitive.”It … points to how complex it is to hold [school] districts and the Ministry of Education and Child Care accountable for delivery of educational programs,” she said.Surrey enrolment goes downThe Surrey School District is also seeing about 350 fewer students than it expected to enrol this year, according to Tymoschuk.He said the number may vary a little before the final count day of Sept. 30, but it won’t change too much.”Planning for numbers of students is a challenge, to say the least. You never know who’s moving out, who’s moving in.”Tymoschuk said the district had already planned for a reduction in the number of students, but the current number is lower than expected.But, Tymoschuk said, it’s not that many students in a district of about 82,000.”We’ve still got capacity issues and we still need new schools and additions to existing ones.”Tymoschuk said while the rainy day fund could help cover some fixed costs, the district still needs support.”We could still use more money from the province.”ABOUT THE AUTHORLauren Vanderdeen is a web writer for CBC British Columbia. She formerly worked for community newspapers, including the Burnaby Now and New West Record. You can reach her at lauren.vanderdeen@cbc.ca.With files from Sohrab Sandhu
Surrey School Board sees $33M surplus, earmarked for new computer systems, rainy day fund
