Two South Surrey elementary schools are no longer under construction as expansion projects have finally opened to students.
South Meridian and Semiahmoo Trail Elementaries' new additions are complete and have welcomed students to the spaces just at the tail end of the school year. South Meridian has eight new classrooms that opened to students in May, while Semiahmoo Trail has opened 10 new classrooms just this month, reported Surrey school district's capital projects executive director Dave Riley,
Both projects received ministry approval in August 2021, according to a report from the Wednesday (June 11) board meeting.
"I’ve seen the completed additions at South Meridian and Semiahmoo Trail and they’re wonderful and they’re sorely needed," said White Rock trustee Laurae McNally.
"I really have to give you a pat on the back for the conditions that you got the grounds back to. I could not believe how great they look," she said to Riley.
Meanwhile, the new prefabricated modular of 12 classrooms opened at Walnut Road Elementary in April, with four more classrooms still under construction on-site, to open once students return after the summer break.
An official opening at Walnut Road was held at the school last week, with some school officials and Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma in attendance.
"I’m glad the minister got to see the effect having the portables stay on the site (have). I don’t know if she really looked at them, but certainly it was mentioned, she was questioned about having them moved," trustee Laurie Larsen said, referencing a question from PAN at the announcement.
"So hopefully she had a look and realized how devastating it is to have a new modular on site but you’re not getting any more play space or free space because the portables are still sitting there so hopefully she had a look."
Snokomish Elementary, the only new public school being constructed in Surrey, remains under construction, although ahead of schedule. Instead of the March 2026 opening, Riley said the school is set to open to students in January 2026.
Woodland Park Elementary's prefabricated module is on its way to be completed also, with students able to learn there in September in 16 new classrooms.
Kwantlen Park Secondary's constructed addition for 20 new classrooms just began construction and is slated to be completed for students in spring 2028, along with the additions at Guildford Park and Tamanawis secondaries, which have yet to see construction begin.
An addition of 14 classrooms at Forsyth Road Elementary is scheduled for occupancy in the fall of 2028, while Fleetwood Park Secondary's 32-classroom addition is expected in January 2029.
Several elementary schools' planned prefabricated additions are still in the design phase with a completion date yet to be set. These include Old Yale Road for 17 classrooms, Martha Currie and Latimer Road for six each, William Watson for 12 and George Greenaway for 14.
Projects still awaiting ministry funding approval include 20-classroom additions each at Grandview Heights and Clayton Heights Secondaries and a new, 37-classroom Darts Hill Elementary.
