Okanagan Skaha School District’s International Student Program is not only growing quickly, but also becoming increasingly financially stable.
The program is bringing in over $1 million this year for the school board. While much of that money goes to funding the program itself, the program is expected to have a $200,000 surplus this year, which pays for programs such as English Language Learners (formerly English Second Language), the sister city exchange program with Ikeda, Japan, and the salaries of the international team.
Over the course of the 2015-16 school year, 112 students will have gone through the International Student Program. With students staying anywhere from two weeks to the full school year, the program will have had the equivalent of 60 full-time students, nearly double last year’s equivalent of 35 FTE students.
“We set some targets and some goals, we’re looking to have 75 or more for next year,” said Jeff Guy, International Student Program administrator. “Growing gradually is the right recipe as it affords our schools to be prepared for welcoming students, and it allows us to generate more quality home stays in the community. We couldn’t handle bringing in 150 students, we don’t have the infrastructure for that. In the long haul, we’d like to come in around 100 full-time equivalent students.”
With students from 11 different international countries represented in the school district, more and more nationalities continue to appear among students in middle and high schools. In fact, the program has become so well-known they have had potential students reach out to them from countries they have never even recruited in.
Despite the financial success of the program, that isn’t it’s largest benefit. As Guy explained, the best part of the program is how it exposes students to other cultures.
“I see the relationships that grow and develop here, I see the emotional attachment that kids develop in a short time,” he said. “I know there are homestead families that stay in touch with students over the years. I had one student that came through our school (Penticton Secondary School) and I visit with him when I’m recruiting in Japan. Those kind of relationships that develop as part of the international program are immeasurable.”
With goals continuing to climb next year and into the future, the International Student Program has found it’s place in the school district.