Variance Application Form

Please read the following documents

Memorandum of Agreement regarding Variance to the Instructional Day Letter sent from the STA to staff reps

Instructions for Applying for Variances for 2026-2027

1. Teachers applying for a variance must include a rationale statement addressing all of the following criteria: a. The course(s) could not be offered during the instructional day, b. The course(s) is a provincially or locally developed course where students are enrolled. e. cannot be a “drop in” or tutorial session, c. The course(s) is multi-grade AND it is educationally sound/appropriate to run it as a multi- grade course, and d. If not multi-grade, the course(s) may be a fine arts foundational course (such as Jazz 8)
2. Teachers must be in a continuing assignment at a school with regular hours (D.22.1.d). The variance agreement does not apply to schools on an extended day schedule and variances will not be considered for such schools.
3. Teachers can apply for a maximum of 2 variances for any one school year.
4. Each variance must be on a separate application.
5. Each application must indicate the days and times of the variance. Instructional time for each variance must be a minimum of 3 hours per week throughout the school year. Variances will not be considered if the time is during lunch break.
6. Teachers must read the Memorandum of Agreement Re: Variance to the Instructional Day. A confirmation on the application form confirms understanding of the rights and obligations included in the Memorandum of Agreement.
7. Each variance application must be approved at a Staff Committee Meeting and the application for must be signed by the Staff Committee Chair.
8. The minutes of the Staff Committee meeting must be attached to each variance application and must include the name of the teacher seeking a variance and the course that is to be taught.
9. A copy of the school’s regular bell schedule must be attached to each variance application.
10. Teachers will receive an email from the STA early in 2026 of acceptance or denial of their variance application.
11. If a variance application is denied by the STA Executive Committee, the member may appeal the decision by calling the STA and asking to be added to the agenda of an upcoming STA Executive Committee meeting to provide further information in support of their application.
12. The deadline for variance applications is November 14, 2025 on or before 4:00 pm.

NOTE: If you are sharing a Variance with another teacher, please submit ONE Variance application and include BOTH applicants’ names. All inquiries can be directed to Ziyad Shukri at grieve1@surreyteachers.org or 604-592-8398.