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Langley mayor wants Province to invest in school expansion in Langley to combat overcrowding

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Feb, 2024 04:27 PM

Langley City council is asking the B-C government to invest in expanding schools to address overcrowding as the community grows.

A statement from Mayor Nathan Pachal says enrolment has already surpassed capacity, and the expected arrival of the SkyTrain in 2028 along with new provincial housing requirements will bring significantly more students over the next decade.

Pachal says one neighbourhood in particular is absorbing 80 per cent of the city's population growth and the local elementary school is in desperate need of expansion to accommodate 165 new students expected over the next four years.

He says an eight-classroom expansion scheduled for 2025-26 is a positive step, but the community needs a -- quote -- "firm commitment" -- from the province to approve the estimated 28-million dollar cost for the project.

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