Surrey struggles with school portables

SURREY (NEWS1130) – Surrey teachers and the NDP say a lack of funding and long term insight have led to a major capacity issue in some Surrey schools.  They are accusing the Liberals of downloading too many costs on the school board.

Removing facility grants, requiring carbon offsets and all-day kindergarten are just a few of the woes schools are facing province-wide.

Jennifer Wadge with the Surrey Teachers Association says problems in her city are particularly bad where schools like Hazelmere are opening brand new with portables.  Others like Panorama or Johnston Heights have anywhere from 11 to 16 portables at a hefty cost.  “We’re taking money away from services to kids like librarians, councillors, learning support teachers and putting that money toward portables which aren’t optimal learning environments.”

NDP leader Carole James compares the capacity crisis to overcrowding at Surrey Memorial Hospital because she says the Liberal government hasn’t taken into account Surrey’s rapid growth.

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