Hundreds more students in Surrey have a better learning environment now that an eight-classroom addition at Panorama Park Elementary school has been completed.

“After years of underinvestment in Surrey, we are working hard to get students out of portables,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education. “When students have the positive, engaging educational experience they deserve, they have a better chance to succeed – and it’s great to see that happening at Panorama Park.”

The expansion at Panorama Park is a $6.1-million project funded by the Province. The project has added 200 new seats, eliminating the need for portables at the school.

“We don’t want to see students learning in portables; disconnected from the rest of the school,” said Jinny Sims, MLA for Surrey Panorama.  “That’s why our government has made investing in Surrey schools a priority. Students are better supported and studying in a more positive environment. Every child needs a real classroom.”

Since September 2017, the Province has approved nearly $250 million in new schools, expansions and seismic upgrades in Surrey. These investments are helping to add nearly 7,400 new student seats in Surrey between 2018 and 2022.

Five new schools and four additions are under construction in Surrey, where only one new school opened between 2014 and 2018.

Providing Surrey students with better places to learn is a priority for government. In two years, the Province has approved over $1.6 billion for new and expanded schools, seismic upgrades and land purchases for future schools.

Quotes:

Laurie Larsen, chair, Surrey Board of Education —

“We’re pleased that government has made getting students out of portables and back into classrooms a reality in Surrey. Surrey is growing at such a fast pace, and these types of investments are integral in ensuring that our students have a positive educational experience in safe and modern facilities.”

Harman Gill, teacher, Panorama Park Elementary —

“The new extension has created a space that enables students to participate in lively group discussions, sharing of knowledge and collaboration. The fluidity of the student and teacher workspace aligns with 21st-century learning where the emphasis is placed on the process.”

Amrit Hundal, teacher, Panorama Park Elementary –

“With the new space, students and teachers have been engaging in a more collaborative environment. The extension has provided learning opportunities for students that encourage movement, networking ideas and taking ownership of their learning. The accessibility for an outdoor learning space has also contributed to a flex environment that progresses beyond the classroom.”

Quick Facts:

• Budget 2019 includes a record $2.7 billion in school capital funding.
• The following school expansion projects are underway in Surrey, with expected completion dates:
  • Pacific Heights Elementary (300-seat addition, April 2020)
  • Coyote Creek Elementary (100-seat addition, September 2020)
  • Frost Road Elementary (150-seat addition, September 2020)
  • Sullivan Elementary (200-seat addition, September 2020)
  • Maddaugh Road Elementary (605-seat new school, January 2021)
  • Edgewood Drive-area Elementary (655-seat new school, January 2021)
  • Douglas-area elementary (new 605-seat school, January 2021)
  • Grandview Heights Secondary (new 1,500-seat school, September 2021)
  • Sullivan Heights Secondary (700-seat addition, September 2021)
  • Regent Road Elementary (new 655-seat school, January 2022)