Prince George- The challenge of 2011-2012 for School District 57 will be how to make up for an expected shortfall of about $2,500,000.00 dollars as a result of a declining enrolment in the school district.

 

Lyn Hall, Chairman of the Board says projections suggest that enrolment will drop by about 300 to 400 students which would result in the drop of revenues from the province.  "The only good news to be found from that" says Hall, "is that Heather Park School could see its population drop by upwards of 120 students next year", bringing the population of the school more into line with other similar schools in the district.

 

Hall says District 57 is going through the same problems as most of the school districts in the province, decreased enrolment and a need to close schools.

 

2011 will not see the closing of any other schools in the district according to the Chairman of the Board.

Giscome continues to be on the radar, Halls says, "We have two portables there, and we are still waiting to see what the province is prepared to offer."

 

About 20 students are attending the Giscome School and the province is no doubt looking at the cost for a new school, estimated to be about 3.5 million dollars.

 

Hall, speaking on the Meisner program on CFIS FM,  says he personally feels the dilemma that rural parents are going through. “They want to raise their kids in a rural atmosphere and the local school very often is the focal point of the rural community”.

 

Both Nukko Lake and Hixon are maintaining their level of students and a local group has taken over the Dunster School which was sold to them and they are operating the school outside of School District 57.