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Driving south on 148 Street this morning, I saw yet another portable being moved onto the school grounds of T.E. Scott Elementary.

This school already has its fair share of portables. I didn’t stop to count but they are now bordering the cemetery at the back of the school grounds.

The land directly across the street from the school has just been cleared for development.  What are they thinking?  Where are these new families going to send their children to school?

Cambridge Elementary to the south, a newer school, is already bulging, Chimney Hill to the north, is about eight years old and has had portables since day one; they are having a second addition built this summer to accommodate all-day kindergarten.

From 72 Avenue to 60 Avenue along 148 Street, there is non-stop residential development. The development cannot continue at this rapid pace. Where are the leaders in this community?

The Mayor has met with Education Minister Abbott, “voicing her concerns about Surrey’s unique situation as a rapidly growing school district,” according to the Ad Hoc Committee’s Bulletin (July 2011). But does she realize that city council and the rapid pace of development are part of the problem. Allowing the development to continue with no thought about the neighbourhood schools is wrong.

When (SCC Councillor) Bob Bose was Mayor of Surrey, development permits were put on hold until the funding for the necessary schools was in place. As a result the development industry and the local real estate market joined the lobby for new schools in Surrey.

This was not a partisan issue as new schools were built at a record pace whether it was Social Credit or NDP governments in Victoria.

This could be a solution to the problem again. Vote SCC for both school trustees and city councillors. These groups need to work together.

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