Catchment boundaries and enrollment for some Prince George schools are getting stricter.
At the board of education’s regular public meeting last night (Feb. 26), trustees voted to restrict enrollment to catchment-area students only at eight schools in the district for the 2020-21 calendar year and subsequent years to come.
Kindergarten enrollment will also be restricted starting for the 2020-21 school year and subsequent years at four schools.
“This is what we feel is the best practice moving forward to address the capacity and catchment issues that we have in the district,” said Trustee Ron Polillo.
The Catchment and Capacity Stakeholder Review Advisory Committee developed the recommendations at its meeting held on Feb. 6.
The recommendations were intended to ensure schools can accommodate their anticipated enrolment and organize instructional programs.
“This recommendation always seems to come to our February meeting after kindergarten registration is already open," said SD57 Board Chair Tim Bennett.
"This now sets the restrictions moving forward and if there is a change that can come prior to kindergarten registration."
For example, École Lac des Bois received over 75 registrants for French Immersion and proceeded with a lottery for the available space.
“I do recognize we have heard concerns especially from our District Parent Advisory Council especially regarding capping French immersion registration and kindergarten and the desire and request for allowing more families into French immersion if possible,” said Bennett.
“We just don’t have the capacity and the staff – particularly French immersion teachers – in place. Hopefully, we can recruit an abundance of French immersion teachers to the district then we can expand capacity and increase our French immersion enrollment but at this time it is very difficult with the space we have.”
Enrollment will be restricted to catchment areas only at:
- College Heights Secondary School
- Duchess Park Secondary School (Regular Program Only)
- Edgewood Elementary School
- Hart Highlands Elementary School
- Harwin Elementary
- Ron Brent Elementary
- Southridge Elementary
- Springwood Elementary
Kindergarten Enrollment will be restricted at:
- College Heights Elementary – French Immersion, no more than 40 students
- Spruceland Traditional Elementary – No more than 40 students
- Polaris Montessori Elementary – No more than 40 students
- École Lac des Bois – No more than 60 students
The board also approved a motion to begin work in September 2020 to review the catchment boundaries and concerns for the district as a whole.
The work will pay particular attention to the College Heights Family of Schools, D.P. Todd Family of Schools, Kelly Road Family of Schools and PGSS Family of Schools.
The motion also notes that three additional modular units will be purchased and situated at D.P. Todd Secondary for use on a short term basis and the board noted that three modular units at Heritage Elementary are scheduled to be replaced as well.
"There will be follow up and as we start to engage the process with the catchment and capacity committee there will be an opportunity for that dialogue with those impacted,' added Bennett, regarding the review.
The catchment and capacity committee also urged the board to strongly advocate to the Ministry of Education for the D.P. Todd Secondary expansion and renovation project which is included on the five-year capital plan.
