The new joint executive Surrey project board has approved the first priority project to be expedited in Surrey – a new Clayton-area elementary school – delivering on its commitment to create 5,200 new student seats.

Education Minister Mike Bernier made the announcement today at the Surrey District Education Office, alongside MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale Stephanie Cadieux and Surrey School Board chairperson Shawn Wilson.

The new 4,700 square-metre elementary school will be located at 186th St. and 74th Ave. in the northwest area of Clayton Heights. The three-storey building will create 655 new student spaces with a price tag of $26 million. The Province is contributing $21.7 million towards the project and the Surrey School District is providing $4.3 million. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2018 and finish in winter 2020.

The board held a productive first official meeting last month, where they approved the new elementary school and confirmed the priority areas for adding school capacity over the next three years.

The priority areas are Grandview Heights in South Surrey, Clayton Heights in Cloverdale and Sullivan Heights in Newton. These new seats will support spaces for students of all grade levels, with a specific focus on the need for more elementary seats to support the growing number of young families in these areas.

The next step will be to start detailed planning for the individual projects, including project scope, schedule, cost and design. From there, the team will move the approved projects forward for formal approval, project agreement signing, tender and construction.

In January, the Province established the project board to accelerate the construction and planning for 5,200 new student seats, with a $217-million funding envelope with contributions from both the Province and the district.

The board was also tasked with looking for ways to fast-track the 4,200 seats that are currently underway or nearing construction in the district, with a total price tag of almost $155 million. The projects include:

• Expansions at Sullivan, Woodward Hill and Panorama Park elementary schools, creating 600 new student seats;
• A new 1,500 seat Grandview Heights-area Secondary;
• A new 605 seat Clayton North-area Elementary;
• A new 1,500 seat Salish Secondary; and
• Land has also been purchased for a future elementary school in Port Kells.

The board’s work to open these 9,400 new seats builds on the $70 million worth of projects completed in the district since 2013. These projects added 2,480 new seats for Surrey students: additions at Adams Road, Morgan and Rosemary Heights Elementary schools and Fraser Heights and Panorama Ridge Secondary schools, Sunnyside Elementary replacement, and the new Goldstone Park and Katzie Elementary schools.

The B.C. government is making record investments in modern, safe infrastructure projects throughout the province. In doing so, these construction projects are creating well-paying, family-supporting jobs. It is estimated that the new school construction will create over 1,000 direct jobs. These investments are possible because of the fiscal plan of the B.C. government.

(flickr.com)

Quotes:

Mike Bernier, Minister of Education –

“It’s impressive that the Surrey project board has already chosen the first school construction project to be accelerated and developed a plan using the district’s priorities to drive construction forward and get more students into classrooms fast. I’m confident that the board will continue to deliver and get shovels in the ground quickly on projects that will support the students and families of Surrey.”

Stephanie Cadieux, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale –

“Our communities here in Surrey have seen incredible growth – in fact, Surrey is B.C.’s largest and fastest-growing school district. Government has committed to ensure our growth is supported with crucial school infrastructure for years to come. We are on track, with today’s exciting announcement of a new elementary school for the Clayton Heights neighbourhood.”

Shawn Wilson, Surrey School District board chairperson –

“Our board is pleased to see the newly established joint executive project board following through on its commitment to expedite much-needed classroom space in Surrey neighbourhoods where it is needed most. Trustees have agreed on our district’s $4.3-million contribution toward an initial project, a new elementary school in the northwest area of Clayton, and we are optimistic this new collaborative model will be more efficient in addressing our district’s significant and ongoing enrolment growth and in turn, better serve education in our community.”

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the Surrey School District student population has seen about a 20% increase in student enrolment, from 58,648 students to an estimated 71,115 in 2016-17.
• In addition to today’s announcement, government has committed almost $529 million for 70 capital and seismic projects and 14 site acquisitions in Surrey since 2001.

Learn More:

Surrey School District: www.surreyschools.ca

Capital Planning: http://ow.ly/pzLA30a0CVh