By Ian Holmes

Nanaimo Ladysmith School District optimistic due to rising enrolment

Nov 8, 2017 | 4:39 PM

NANAIMO — After several rocky years led by school closures, the chair of the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools believes an era of stability has arrived.

Board chair Steve Rae told NanaimoNewsNOW the school district is optimistic for the coming year for numerous reasons, including the hiring of more than 100 teachers over the summer.

He said they’re currently working out the bugs with hiring so many new teachers and changing the size of the classroom, “But we’re getting through it through the hard work of our teachers, our staff and our partner groups. Things are looking good, we’re very excited about what the future brings. The classrooms and the class sizes are more manageable, it’s a better learning environment.”

An about-face in enrolment numbers also has the school board feeling optimistic.

After closing eight elementary schools between 2003 and 2016 and declining numbers since the 2000/01 year, with Rutherford Elementary closing in June 2018 due to capacity issues, the tables have turned and enrolment numbers are expected to increase annually until 2026. 

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Assistant Supt. Tim Davie said the school district is following a trend of “students moving into areas throughout our District, it’s not concentrated into specific pockets at this time.”

Over the next decade, Davie anticipated nearly 850 more students in the District for a student population of roughly 14,400. 

No new schools to handle increased attendance are part of the school districts five-year capital plan. Davie said they’ll look at capacity within schools and possibly adding portables.

Ministry of Education data shows Nanaimo and Ladysmith schools had an occupancy rate of 88.5 per cent last school year.  

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes