The Okanagan Skaha School District is hosting an information session in mid-may on their review of catchment area boundaries.
“It’s not really that the population is shifting, it’s more that we have a couple of schools that are close to being full,” said school superintendent Wendy Hyer. “What we wanted to look at is what they long-term projections are for those neighborhoods, and whether or not we are going to have to make boundary changes to accommodate the enrolment.”
Hyer said the meeting — on May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the IMC building behind the board office — is an update looking at information about what population is going to look like in the future, and options for dealing with schools that are approaching capacity.
Hyer said there are a number of options they will present to the public. Unlike school closures, the school board isn’t required to consult with the public on boundary changes.
“It is just something the board wanted to do to enhance communication and transparency with its public,” said Hyer. “We do get over 100 requests for boundary transfers every year. Some of them we can accommodate, others we can’t, because the school is full.”
But the first priority she said is making sure there is room for the students in the school’s immediate area.
“As schools get full, what are the steps we are going to take to make sure there is space in those schools for the kids that live in the neighbourhood, first,” said Hyer. “One of the things the policy is pretty clear about is that transfer will only be approved if there is room in the school.”
Hyer explained that in the past transferring students between catchment areas hadn’t been an issue, but the Supreme Court ruling ordering smaller class sizes means the district is using more space in schools
“So a couple of schools are getting close to not having any more room,” said Hyer, adding that means the district has to take steps to ensure they meet policy.
“In my mind, it’s a moral obligation to make sure the kids that live in the neighbourhood get to go to their neighbourhood school. And then if there is space and resources available, then a transfer can be considered,” said Hyer.