The Surrey Board of Education is eliminating the district's Grade 7 band program starting in the fall as part of an effort to address a $16-million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year.

The elementary band program is not part of the B.C. curriculum.

Cutting the Grade 7 band program will affect 12 band teachers who currently travel between Surrey schools to offer instruction.

In a statement, the Surrey School District said it is aligning its band program more closely with other districts ac…