The Surrey Board of Education is considering a local school calendar for next year in order to assist in addressing a budget shortfall.  The board is seeking parent input before its May 20, 2010 public meeting when trustees will vote on the proposed calendar changes

The board is considering a local school calendar for the entire district that would decrease the number of days of instruction by five days compared to the standard provincial school calendar. Sufficient minutes would be added to the rest of the school year in order to meet Ministry of Education requirements for hours of instruction.

This proposed calendar is similar to this year’s Surrey school district calendar in that spring break would be extended by one week. Therefore, the five school closure days proposed for the next school year would be March 28 to April 1, 2011.

Also, as was done this school year, the board is again proposing district-wide non-instructional days (or Pro-D days). These dates would be:

• September 27, 2010
• October 22, 2010
• November 12, 2010
• February 11, 2011
• May 6, 2011
• May 30, 2011

The board anticipates significant cost savings from these proposed calendar changes, as the school district currently spends more than $100,000 each day to replace absent teaching and non-teaching staff. There will be further savings resulting from decreased energy costs (transportation, heat, light) during the five days when schools are not providing regular service. The board is considering these changes in order to help address a $12-million budget shortfall.

You are invited to let your school principal know whether you support this proposed school calendar for next year. Each school principal will provide a report to the board summarizing the feedback received to assist the board in making its decision at the board’s public meeting on May 20, 2010.

Last Updated: April 27, 2010