Langley school district rejigs catchment areas for fastest-growing neighbourhood
Posted June 23, 2016 10:28 pm.
Last Updated June 23, 2016 11:06 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LANGLEY (NEWS 1130) – The Surrey School District gets a lot of attention when it comes to overcrowded schools, but Langley is having similar problems.
For now, some school catchment areas are being redrawn to redistribute students. The schools affected by the new boundaries are all in the Willoughby slope area, Langley’s fastest growing neighbourhood. The changes take effect for the fall of 2017.
But board chair Rob McFarlane points out another solution is needed to address overcapacity at R.E. Mountain secondary and Yorkson Creek middle school.
“The middle school and the secondary school student population is more of a challenge for us. They both have more students than they were designed for, so there are portables.”
He says the school board’s number one priority in its five-year capital plan is for a new bigger high school to be built, so that the middle school can occupy the current high school’s space.
“There are challenges right now. It will be worse three to five years down the road. If nothing is done, the challenges will be critical.”
He is hoping the province will soon announce a brand new secondary school for Willoughby.
Victoria has recently announced new high schools for North Vancouver, New Westminster and Surrey.
