The Surrey school board is facing mounting criticism after it was revealed that superintendent Mark Pearmain received a total compensation of $527,363 last school year, making him the highest-paid superintendent in British Columbia. Board chairman Gary Tymoschuk has repeatedly sidestepped questions about the substantial pay increases approved for the district's top employees.
Details of the Compensation
According to reports, Pearmain's remuneration alone, which includes salary, benefits, and bonuses, amounted to $447,199 in 2024-25. This represents a 26% increase from the $354,066 he received the previous year. Deputy superintendent Andrew Holland also saw a significant raise, with his remuneration jumping 24% to $351,119 from $283,178.
The breakdown of Pearmain's total compensation includes a base salary of $364,207, pension contributions of $22,204, and benefits of $44,149. Additionally, he received $96,803 in other payments, comprising a vacation payout of $56,032, a car allowance of $14,282, and $26,489 in lieu of savings plan participation, long-service recognition, and matching employee benefit contributions.
Public Outrage and Criticism
Carson Binda, B.C. director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, condemned the raises as "absolutely outrageous." He stated, "These pay raises are a real slap in the face to taxpayers, especially when the district is cutting services for students while executives take massive salaries."
When questioned by Postmedia about the rationale behind the pay hikes, Tymoschuk deflected, repeatedly stating that compensation for senior-level employees is determined in collaboration with the Public Sector Employers' Council and the B.C. Public School Employers' Association. He noted that these bodies conduct market reviews to ensure compensation scales align with other organizations.
Lack of Transparency
Despite repeated attempts, Postmedia was unable to obtain comments from the remaining six school trustees, as they did not respond to phone calls, texts, or emails. The district also declined to arrange an interview with Pearmain.
In addition to Pearmain and Holland, Linda Michele Radomski, executive director for human resources, received a 32.6% increase in total compensation, earning $316,490 last year. The board's refusal to directly address public concerns has further fueled criticism over the lack of transparency and accountability in the decision-making process.
