Comox Valley Schools is beginning a conversation with the public to address enrolment pressures that will impact the placement of students in neighbourhood schools by fall 2020.
As a result of increasing student population in the region and the 2017 Supreme Court ruling that reduced classroom size, some district schools are operating near or above capacity with no additional room or viable options to expand.
The Board of Education has initiated the development of a consultation process for the fall of 2019 on catchment areas. Before consultation can begin, the board is asking the community what additional information should be considered that may not have been addressed already. Having an early conversation will help create an engaging experience for the consultation process.
The board is addressing the capacity issue to make decisions early enough to implement for the 2020/21 school year, when enrolment will surpass space currently available in a few district schools.
Four meetings are scheduled in May, as follows:
• Lake Trail Middle School - Monday, May 6, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
• Cumberland Community School (multi-purpose room) - Tuesday, May 7, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
• Miracle Beach School - Thursday, May 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
• Huband Park Elementary School - Monday, May 13, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The agenda for each meeting will include a situation report on the state of enrolment and pressures in the district, enrolment trends and forecasts, a review of the catchment areas and grade configurations in School District 71 schools, and the procedures for cross-boundary transfer requests. The meeting will then move into a focus group format to discuss concerns further.
The board encourages the public - particularly residents of one of the neighbourhood schools listed above - to attend a meeting and share in the conversation. These early awareness sessions will help build a productive consultation process for the fall of 2019 around catchment areas.