Except for St. Francis here, schools under the Northwest Catholic District School Board saw a higher than expected enrolment to start the 2000-01 year, trustees were told at their regular monthly meeting Saturday morning.
“It was rather surprising to see,” said Education Director Carol-Lynne Oldale, referring to the increased number of students at St. Joseph’s in Dryden and Sacred Heart in Sioux Lookout as well as the loss of 22 at St. Francis.
“In general, we’re pleased. But the real loss seems to be with the St. Michael’s-St. Francis split–K-grade three and then the older grades,” she added.
“I guess we have to look into it and determine why there’s a lower enrolment.”
Meanwhile, the 18 new students at St. Joseph’s has forced the board to move some unused class space here.
“We’re having to provide a new classroom for St. Joseph’s in order for the board to be in compliance with class size legislation,” Oldale said. “Although we have to get some details cleared up, we’re in the process of having a portable moved [from St. Michael’s] to St. Joseph’s.”
An enrolment of 303 was expected for St. Francis this fall but the actual figure was only 281. But at St. Joseph’s, the estimated enrolment of 446 wound up being 505.
Sacred Heart, Our Lady of the Way (Stratton), and St. Michael’s all saw higher-than-expected enrolments of 11, two, and four students respectively.
Oldale noted dealing with the flux in students shouldn’t be a problem as board funding is determined from enrolment figures calculated on Oct. 31 and March 31.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
