To: Surrey School District Board of Trustees

We, the undersigned parents, students, educators, and concerned community members, strongly oppose the proposed permanent implementation of Hybrid Learning for high school students in the Surrey School District, set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year.

Our Concerns:

1.      Reduced Quality of Education
Hybrid Learning may compromise the depth and quality of education due to limited in-person interactions between students and teachers. Face-to-face engagement is crucial for effective learning, especially in subjects requiring hands-on instruction, real-time feedback, and collaborative discussion.

2.      Increased Learning Disparities
Not all students have equal access to a quiet, conducive home learning environment or reliable technology. This digital divide could disproportionately affect students from lower-income families, widening the educational gap and creating inequities in learning outcomes.

3.      Negative Impact on Student Well-being
Reduced in-person learning may lead to increased social isolation, mental health struggles, and decreased motivation. High school is a formative time for personal and social development, and online learning cannot adequately replace in-person experiences.

4.      Lack of Adequate Consultation
The community, including parents, students, and educators, has not been sufficiently consulted on this significant change. A decision of this magnitude should involve thorough discussions and consideration of all stakeholders' perspectives.

5.      Concerns About Post-Secondary and Career Readiness
Many post-secondary institutions and workplaces require strong in-person collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. A predominantly hybrid model may not provide students with the necessary preparation for future academic and career success.

6.      Failure to Address Funding Shortages
Hybrid Learning will not resolve the financial challenges facing the school district. Instead, it may exacerbate inequalities by widening the gap in the quality of education across the community. Schools require sustainable funding solutions that support in-person learning and equitable resource distribution.

7.      Difficulties for Families Managing Schedules
The combination of Hybrid Learning and extended school hours will create significant challenges for families with children of different ages. Coordinating multiple schedules, transportation, and supervision will place additional burdens on parents, making daily logistics more complicated and stressful.

Our Request:

We urge the Surrey School District to:

1. Reconsider and halt the permanent implementation of Hybrid Learning for high school students.
2. Conduct comprehensive consultations with parents, students, and educators before making any major changes to the education system.
3. Ensure that all students receive a high-quality, equitable, and engaging education that fully supports their academic and social development.
4. Work with the provincial government to seek additional funding allocation to address school overcrowding and resource shortages, rather than shifting the burden onto students and families.

We respectfully request that the Surrey School District prioritize the best interests of students and maintain in-person learning as the primary mode of instruction.