The Rainy River District School Board is expecting to see student enrolment drop again this year but what impact this will have on the 2001-2002 staffing remains to be seen.
“We’re always updating these projections but most recently, the projected enrolment will see 100 less elementary students and 35 less secondary across the board,” said Education Director Warren Hoshizaki.
“This will have an impact on staffing.”
But while the board normally has a good idea of its budget in March, there’s been a delay from the Ministry of Education. “We have our projections but we can’t do anything until we get our general legislative grants,” noted Hoshizaki.
When the board does get a better idea of the future when the grants come in later this month, Hoshizaki said there’s no way it would be as drastic as the cuts made by the school board in International Falls last month.
Over there, 14 teachers lost their jobs to offset a reduction in state aid after enrolment fell by a total of 133 students at the board’s one high school and two elementary schools.
“In the past, we’ve always had enough retirements to balance it out. We’ll have to see what happens this year,” Hoshizaki remarked.
Other factors figured into the balance include re-assignments, resignations, and leaves of absence. For example, the April personnel report noted leaves of absence for 13 teachers and teaching assistants in the upcoming year.
Hoshizaki also said he wasn’t surprised by the drop–it’s been a clear population trend happening across the province as people have fewer children.
“If the trend continues, we’ll see less students, less classrooms, and less teachers–it’s that simple,” he remarked.
The Northwest Catholic District School Board here also is in the process of looking at enrolment but was unable to provide any numbers before press time.
That board did see a slight increase in enrolment in 2000-2001.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
