Students Rally Against Closure of South Surrey Learning Centre

In a significant challenge to the Surrey School District’s budgetary decisions, students from the South Surrey-White Rock Learning Centre have voiced their objections to the impending closure of their school. Despite their passionate advocacy, the Surrey school board, in a decision made during its billion-dollar budget approval in May, confirmed that the learning centre would shut down due to financial constraints.

The lease for the South Surrey-White Rock site will expire in June 2025. According to Gary Tymoschuk, chair of the Surrey school board, the building requires extensive renovations. In light of ongoing funding challenges, the board deemed the closure necessary, opting instead to introduce an “alternate program” at nearby high schools, including Earl Marriott and Semiahmoo. This decision has sparked concern among students who feel that the new arrangements will fail to meet their specific educational needs.

For many students, including Prasayis Hotti, the learning centre has been a vital source of support and encouragement. Hotti, an 18-year-old student, described how the centre transformed her outlook on life. “I never thought I could be something or be someone,” she said, reflecting on her struggles before joining the school. The supportive environment and dedicated staff at the learning centre helped her regain confidence and inspired her career aspirations, including a dream of becoming a flight attendant.

The closure announcement came through an email from the district on January 8, 2025, leaving students feeling abandoned. Spirit Broomfield, a 16-year-old in Grade 11, expressed deep concern about the impact of the closure, stating, “I would be a drop-out if not for the learning centre.” She highlighted the importance of the centre for students who face unique challenges, including mental health issues, bullying, and socio-economic hardships.

Concerns Over Alternative Arrangements

Students fear that the proposed alternative programs at mainstream high schools may not provide the same level of support that they receive at the learning centre. Broomfield noted that the demographic of students at these centres includes those with mental health challenges, youth in care, and Indigenous students, all of whom may struggle in traditional educational settings.

The Surrey school district’s decision to close the learning centre is part of broader changes aimed at addressing overcrowding and financial issues. Other learning centres are also affected, including the Guildford Learning Centre, which has already merged with the North Surrey Learning Centre, allowing the district to cut costs by ending the Guildford lease.

At the heart of the students’ concerns lies a fear of returning to mainstream schools. Octavia Macdonald, a 17-year-old who has experienced the benefits of the learning centre, articulated the anxiety many students feel about transitioning back to a conventional educational environment. “I tried going to mainstream and I tried online, but the support from these teachers – the low student-to-teacher ratio helps so much,” she said. Macdonald emphasized that without the learning centre, she might have dropped out or faced greater challenges.

Tymoschuk acknowledged the difficult decision to close the learning centre, emphasizing that the board is committed to ensuring the alternative program will provide necessary support to affected students. “We’ll make sure there will be structured programming that meets their needs,” he stated. However, many students remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the proposed alternatives.

Call for Action from Local Leaders

The situation has drawn attention from local political leaders, including Trevor Halford, MLA for Surrey-White Rock. Halford has publicly urged the provincial government to reconsider the closure, advocating for funding to keep the learning centre operational. “The Learning Centre provides a lifeline for students who’ve fallen through the cracks of the mainstream system,” he said in a press release on January 13, 2025.

Halford’s comments highlight the broader implications of the closure, suggesting that the decision represents a failure to invest in vulnerable student populations. He called on the government to choose solutions that work rather than allowing students to fall behind.

The students at the South Surrey-White Rock Learning Centre are planning to engage with the school board in hopes of finding a more suitable solution. They argue that the learning centre serves as a necessary support system for students who might otherwise struggle in traditional schools. “Most kids here aren’t even dropouts; they just need that extra help or that comforting space,” Broomfield emphasized.

As the closure date approaches, the community watches closely, aware of the potential consequences for students who rely on the learning centre as a place of refuge and growth. The outcome of this situation will not only affect current students but could also shape the future of alternative education in the Surrey school district.