Latest news with #MarkPearmain
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
How students in Surrey, B.C., are helping shape the future of AI in classrooms
Students in Surrey, B.C., are helping the district decide how to best use AI in classrooms. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the way people learn and work, students in Surrey, B.C., are taking an active role in guiding how AI is introduced in their classrooms. Grade 7 student Benjamin Neufeld is part of the Surrey School District's Superintendent's AI Advisory Council — a group of students offering feedback on how schools can responsibly use the fast-evolving technology. 'Often, you know, teachers can sometimes feel overworked,' Neufeld said. 'And I think that having AI is like having, sort of, almost like a substitute for that teacher.' Grade 11 student Jasper Zhang, also on the advisory council, said while some teachers are embracing AI tools, others are more hesitant — a divide he believes education leaders need to address. 'So instead of making our students just, like, bury their heads in the sand and hope that AI goes away,' Zhang said, 'we should be learning productive ways to help students, when they go to the workforce, to be able to adopt and use AI' Surrey School District Superintendent Mark Pearmain has been hosting AI information sessions for months. One of the biggest concerns he hears from parents is about student privacy and safety — particularly when it comes to sharing personal data with online AI platforms. 'We've heard from parents, staff, and students,' Pearmain said. 'One of the biggest concerns coming from parents is the safety side of AI.' The provincial government has released guidance on AI use in schools, and B.C.'s Minister of Education Lisa Beare told CTV News the province supports schools using AI, but emphasized the need for guardrails. 'We have to recognize it's here, and people are using it,' said Beare. 'So we want to make sure that everyone is using it safely, and that it's being used in the best possible way in classrooms.' Still, implementing AI effectively is a logistical and financial challenge — especially in a district like Surrey, which is already facing budget pressures. But Pearmain believes the technology could help level the playing field for many students. 'The majority of our students aren't necessarily English-first language speakers,' he said. 'Many don't have parents with formal schooling or post-secondary education. Now, you have a platform that provides a level playing field.' Pearmain and the student advisory council agree that a balanced approach is key — one that enhances learning without becoming overly reliant on tech. 'If ChatGPT goes down or if the power goes out,' Zhang said, 'we should still be able to do all the things we were able to do before AI.' For now, the district is leaving the final decisions up to individual teachers, while working to provide more support, tools, and guidance for the next school year.
CBC
10-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Surrey schools putting U.S. field trips on hold amid trade war
Social Sharing There are disappointed students, anxious parents and cautious school officials in at least two Canadian school districts that have suspended or cancelled trips over political uncertainty in the United States. British Columbia's largest school district in Surrey has put all field trips down south on hold to prevent any "negative experiences at the border," while New Brunswick's largest French school district abruptly cancelled a high school band trip as a "precautionary decision." Mark Pearmain, Surrey's district superintendent, said the city is "diverse" with many students from different backgrounds, including some who may not be Canadian citizens. Largest school district in B.C cancels public school field trips to the U.S 16 hours ago Duration 1:56 B.C.'s largest school district has hit pause on any more public school field trips to the US. The move by Surrey comes amid mounting security concerns at the border. Our Jon Hernandez spoke with students and immigration experts who support the decision. "Some of them might be here because their parents are temporary foreign workers, and it's a recognition that we just always want to make sure that our staff and our students are always safe," he said. The district has about 40 to 60 international field trips each year, and about half of those go to the United States. Some of them are sports-related, while others are dance competitions or musical events. He said they don't want to see a scenario where a student or a staff member experiences trouble at the border. Pearmain said they're suggesting teachers look for opportunities to explore "our amazing country," Canada, including "beautiful British Columbia." Surrey Schools' decision to cancel U.S. trips not sitting well with everyone 9 minutes ago Duration 8:58 The Surrey school district's move to put student and staff trips to the U.S. on pause due to security concerns is being supported by some groups, but not everyone is on board. Shawn Gallacher, who ran Affinity Group Tours -- a company solely dedicated to organizing school tours and trips -- has worked with all the schools over his 38-year run. He says the experience for students is irreplaceable. He said he's hopeful things will settle down in the future, and schools can go back to their previous practices. Monique Boudreau, superintendent for the Francophone Sud School District, in Dieppe, N.B., said in a statement it made the "difficult decision" to suspend a planned trip to the United States this month for a high school orchestra from École L'Odyssée, a public school in Moncton. Boudreau said the decision came "in the context of a complex and uncertain sociopolitical environment," followed by discussions with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. She said they cancelled the trip after the department had indicated that it expected to receive guidelines concerning banning non-essential travel to the United States. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt told reporters last week that there wasn't a directive from the province to districts or to schools to stop travel to the United States. "We are hearing about anxieties of travelling into the United States, but those decisions and the authority for those decisions lie with the schools and districts," she said. Boudreau said it's no longer possible to reschedule the trip. "The essential services required to carry out the travel plans — including transportation, accommodations, and planned activities — are no longer available, making it impossible for the trip to proceed," said Boudreau. The district shares the disappointment felt by the students, their families, and the school staff, but they remain confident in their decision, she said. Boudreau said the École L'Odyssée team is already exploring other ways to offer the band students an "equally meaningful experience" in Canada before the end of the school year. Global Affairs Canada updated its advisory for those travelling to the United States last week, warning people that they may face "scrutiny" from border guards and there's a possibility of detention or that they could be denied entry.
CBC
03-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Surrey School Board faces $16M shortfall, considers cuts to elementary band program
Social Sharing Families in Surrey, B.C. are bracing for more cuts as the city's school board says it struggles to balance its budget, putting elementary band programs among those at risk of being reduced or eliminated. The Surrey Board of Education says it is facing a $16-million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. It has already reduced bus services and has been closing down learning centres. Now it's reviewing programs that are not part of the B.C. curriculum, including elementary band, in an effort "to look for efficiencies" and align programming more closely with other districts across the province, according to Surrey Schools superintendent Mark Pearmain. "The Board foresees significant challenges and expects to make strategic decisions that allow them to ensure a balanced budget," Pearmain said in a statement this week. Parents push back against cuts Surrey parent Amy Kinvig, whose two sons participated in the music program at Surrey Central Elementary, fears her 11-year-old daughter, Ayla, will lose the same opportunity. "It really created a safe space and an outlet for them, and I would like [my daughter] to be able to experience and grow that creative side of her as well," Kinvig said. She says these programs offer more than just musical education. "A band is a team. They can share their experiences, build friendships…. It's for their mental health," she said. Frustrated by the potential cuts, Kinvig urged the board to find a solution: "Come up with the money, make it work." An online petition calling for the preservation of the music programs has gathered more than 2,200 signatures. Board cites lack of provincial funding The school board says funding constraints could also impact Strong Start, a free drop-in program that supports young children's development before they enter school. "The only way we can deal with the shortfall is through changes to the programs that we deliver," said board vice-chair Terry Allen. Allen said the district has been forced to make difficult decisions due to provincial funding not keeping pace with inflation and rapid population growth. "Everybody in this entire province knows what inflation has done to their budgets, let alone a budget of over a billion dollars, and how it negatively impacts the Surrey school district," he said. WATCH | White Rock Learning Centre to close as lease expires: White Rock learning centre to close as lease expires 2 months ago Duration 2:19 The vice-chair added that the district is struggling with growing costs, particularly around supporting diverse learners, noting that Surrey Schools spends $54 million more annually on special education than the province provides. "Most people don't know that beyond per-student funding, Surrey Schools does not receive any funds specifically for busing, band, Strong Start, learning centres, related infrastructure, building leases and portable moves," he said. The district's current budget is $1.142 billion and was passed with "difficult, sometimes heartbreaking" cuts, according to the board. The board says 93 per cent of its budget goes to teacher and staff salaries and benefits, leaving little flexibility for cost reductions elsewhere. The Ministry of Education and Child Care says it has steadily increased operational funding for the Surrey school district since 2017, committing more than $1 billion in operating and special grants for the current year. "This builds on the Province's record capital investments of nearly $1 billion in Surrey — more than any other district in B.C," Minister Lisa Beare said in a statement to CBC News. She said the province is working with the district to address financial challenges. "We recognize Surrey is one of B.C.'s fastest-growing communities, and my ministry will continue to collaborate with the district to identify and address challenges so that all students can get what they need to succeed and thrive in school." Surrey District Parent Advisory Council president Anne Whitmore says parents are frustrated with the ministry's response. "The answer from the ministry seems to be that districts need to handle their funds better…. Districts are not running with luxurious programs," she said. "We wish that was the case and there were extras to be removed without much impact on students." Whitmore says the cuts will disproportionately affect students who rely on these programs for support and engagement. "Those that are on the fringe, gifted students who need challenging programs, or students who enjoy music and rely on it to stay engaged in their education … those are some of the first services that will be cut." The Surrey School Board has extended the deadline for parents and caregivers to provide input on its 2025-26 budget through an online survey, now open until April 6. The board has a legal obligation to pass a balanced budget by June 30, 2025.
