Former students of a specialized school program in South Surrey are speaking out, saying the learning centre was a lifeline — and one they might not have graduated without.
The Surrey School District has announced it will close the South Surrey-White Rock Learning Centre at the end of the school year. The district says the facility’s lease is up, and that it can’t afford renovations or higher rent.
The learning centre provides alternative education programs for students who struggle in mainstream schools.
Desmond Tompkins was one of those students.
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An out queer student with learning differences, he said he faced constant bullying and harassment at his mainstream school.
“I was on the brink of failing all of my classes. I was going to drop out of school until I learned about the learning centre,” he said.
“It got to the point where threats to my life were made and I was assaulted on school grounds, and that was the turning …