SCHOOL CLOSURES/RECONFIGURATION
THE PROBLEM(S)
Declining Revenue
Due to declining enrolment and a shortfall in funding, School District 70 will need to reduce expenditures by a minimum of $800,000 this and subsequent school years.
The district has, for the past five years, been seeking efficiencies and reducing staff to balance the budget. This is becoming ever more difficult.
At present most of our schools have excess capacity and are under utilized. Maintaining this excess capacity is a significant drain on services to students.
School Size
As our total student enrolment declines, so do individual school enrolments. We have over 1300 fewer students since 2003, the last time we closed schools. Our current total elementary enrolment in Port Alberni elementary schools is 1230 with capacity for 1958 students. There are many empty classrooms in our elementary schools. Our two middle schools have an enrolment of 712 with a capacity for 1,025 students.
As schools have fewer students it becomes increasingly difficult to provide the full range of services to students. Library, learning assistance and special education time is reduced. Two-grade split classes have become the norm and soon three-grade splits will be required. Small staffs are stretched to provide a full range of activities for students.
Maintaining Schools
As a district we are operating more schools than required for our student population.
With declining revenues it is increasingly difficult to maintain our aging schools. All capital expenditures costing less than $1 million are funded from the Annual Capital Grant or the district’s operating budget.
THE OPPORTUNITIES
Our school district currently consists of two configurations: K-7, 8-12 in Tofino, Bamfield and Ucluelet and K-5, 6-8, 9-12 in Port Alberni. The Board of Education has directed senior administration to determine the best method to align our entire district to a K-7, 8-12 model. In order to accomplish this reconfiguration we will need to close elementary school(s) in Port Alberni, beginning in September 2014.
CONSULTATION/FEEDBACK PROCESS TO DATE
2013
Jan – Mar Community meetings lead to feedback and postponement of school closure to 2014-15.
Oct – Dec Board/admin working sessions to explore options
2014
January 28 Board directs staff to explore K-7, 8-12 for Port Alberni
February 4 Phase one input: Stakeholder/Community Input session @ ADSS – 7:00 pm
February 5 Phase one input: Stakeholder/Community Input session @ ADSS – 4:00
February 4 - 10 Online input survey available at www.sd70.bc.ca
February 11 Board reviews Phase one input and determines Phase two input
February 12 - Feb 17 Phase two input (dates/locations to be determined based on phase one outcomes)
February 24 - March 10 Consideration of all feedback/input
March 11 Board makes final decision regarding school closures/reconfigurations
Guidelines for Decision-Making
1. School closures/reconfiguration shall result in improved service to students with the goal of improved student achievement.
2. School closures/reconfiguration shall result in significant overall savings.
3. The timing and phasing in of any changes will be strategically planned and the needs of displaced students carefully considered.
SCHOOL CLOSURES/RECONFIGURATION
THE PROBLEM(S)
Declining Revenue
Due to declining enrolment and a shortfall in funding, School District 70 will need to reduce expenditures by a minimum of $800,000 this and subsequent school years.
The district has, for the past five years, been seeking efficiencies and reducing staff to balance the budget. This is becoming ever more difficult.
At present most of our schools have excess capacity and are under utilized. Maintaining this excess capacity is a significant drain on services to students.
School Size
As our total student enrolment declines, so do individual school enrolments.