BURST
Mark Pearmain, superintendent of the Surrey school district, received more than half-a-million dollars in compensation during the last school year, making him the highest-paid superintendent in B.C.
Some in the education sector are criticizing Pearmain’s pay, with one education advocate saying the school district needs a “reality check.”
“We’ve seen programs cut that were costing less than that,” said Patti Bacchus, a former Vancouver school board trustee.
Bacchus acknowledged Surrey is the largest school district in B.C. and that the role of superintendent requires a competitive salary since the job demands a high level of experience, education, diplomacy and other leadership skills. But it seems senior-level compensation has increased to a level that is “disconnected,” she said.
“I have trouble saying that paying a senior manager north of $500,000 or $400,000, or even $300,000, is the best way to allocate public funds that are intended to educate students in public schools.”
Each year, all school boards must disclose financial information for the fiscal year. This report includes the remuneration and expenses for all school board trustees and employees whose salaries are higher than $75,000. Districts also must submit to the province compensation disclosure statements for executive staff.
According to 2024-25 school year reports, Pearmain was the highest-paid superintendent in B.C. In addition to a salary of $364,207, Pearmain also received vacation payout, a car allowance, benefits, pension and other expenses not detailed. In total, the superintendent took home $527,363 last school year.
By comparison, Helen McGregor, the superintendent of the Vancouver school board, earned a total of $473,679, including a salary of $341,228, a vehicle allowance, benefits, pension, vacation payout and other expenses not detailed.
“I am just so shocked,” said Tammy Murphy, president of CUPE 728, the union for Surrey school district support workers.
Murphy said she is especially frustrated because the district cut 50 education assistant positions last year through attrition, with the board stating it was a necessary step due to not enough government funding.
“They’re saying they are not getting funded enough and that there’s not enough to take care of the students, to give them the proper education that they need,” she said. “But it’s all going to the top. They are overflowing the top and taking away from the bottom.”
Pearmain’s remuneration alone last year was $447,199, a 26 per cent increase from the year prior when it was $354,066.
“He’s getting paid more than the premier, and (David Eby) has to run an entire province,” Murphy said.
The district defended the superintendent’s pay, stating it is in line with the Public Sector Employers’ Council and B.C. Public School Employers’ Association guidelines.
“As B.C.’s largest school district, Surrey Schools serves a student population equivalent to Vancouver and Coquitlam combined, with compensation structured to match the district’s size and complexity,” reads a statement from the district.
No additional cuts to student programs or services are anticipated this year, the statement added.
All financial decisions in a school district are approved by the elected school boards.
The Surrey superintendent was not the only senior-level employee who received a significant pay increase last year.
Deputy Superintendent Andrew Holland took home $422,954 last school year, up from $328,797 in 2023-24. Looking at remuneration alone, Holland’s pay increased by about 24 per cent, from $283,178 in 2023-24 to $351,119 in 2024-25.
Several senior managers also receive leased vehicles from the district, including Pearmain, Holland, secretary-treasurer Raymond Velestuk, and Linda Michele Radomski, the executive-director for human resources. Insurance, maintenance and operating costs related to the company cars are covered by the school district.
These individuals are also able to use the vehicles for personal use, the district states in the report, adding that because of that, they reimburse one-third of the lease back to the school district.
“We have a lot of itinerant staff at schools, like speech therapists and counsellors who go from school to school. I suspect they’re not getting that level of a car allowance,” Bacchus said.
Bacchus said accountability rests with the trustees.
Murphy agrees.
“I think that we really need to look at this when it comes to voting,” Murphy said. “Somebody is approving this. The district can’t do this by themselves. We elect people to hold them accountable, and I don’t know that that’s happening.”