Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district sees lower than expected enrolment
Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district's student population is going up, but actual growth is less than what the district expected.
Compared to September 2021, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools has an additional 268 students though that's less than what the district planned for when it delivered its preliminary budget in February. Elementary enrolment is 64 fewer than projected while in Grades 8-12, 56 more students are enrolled than anticipated.
Once calculating full-time equivalent course loads, the district is recording a loss of 96 FTE over projections, which reflects a change in $664,808 in base provincial funding. Enrolment within the unique student supplement categories, however, which includes different levels of special needs as well as English language learning and Indigenous education, is higher than projected.
“Overall I'd say we're in a relatively good position,” Secretary-Treasurer Mark Walsh told the business committee in October. “Certainly we won't have to look at reallocations to cover the slight decline in elementary.”
The district will be re-engaging its geospatial consultant to review what could be driving the enrolment changes, how it might impact NLPS's long-range facilities plan and whether or not the factors contributing to the shifts are systemic, including whether families are choosing non-public school options.
“Some of the questions we're asking ourselves is, are there kids missing and what's our role in getting those kids connected to the district,” Walsh said. “Is it a housing market issue? We're still seeing kids growth in secondary, so does that mean that mature families can still afford to come to Nanaimo but young families can't? We don't know what that looks like yet.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.