By Spencer Sterritt

Out-of-area enrollment ends in Nanaimo-Ladysmith schools

Jun 28, 2018 | 4:41 PM

NANAIMO — Parents hoping to enroll their children at elementary schools out of their area are out of luck.

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools announced the moratorium on out-of-catchment placement for the upcoming school year on June 26 in a letter to parents.

School district communications director Dale Burgos explained to NanaimoNewsNOW there’s not enough room across the district to accommodate students making the choice to attend a school elsewhere.

“We’re very empathetic of the situation some of these families are experiencing. We don’t want to break up families,” Burgos said. “However, we’re in a difficult position as a district because we want to make sure we have space for all students at all schools. There is room for all students at their in-catchment schools. There always will be.”

Burgos said enrollment is increasing across the district and they anticipate several hundred new students arriving over the summer and even into September, which happens every year.

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The moratoirum is expected to effect several hundred students.

Burgos said the most common example of why a student would be enrolled out of their catchment area is because an older sibling was enrolled before and parents want their children to stay together. Parents might have been drawn to a specific program at an out-of-catchment school, or perhaps relatives lived close by and were accessible for picking up and dropping off, Burgos said.

When asked if the school district planned on re-opening any recently closed schools, Burgos said they wouldn’t because it wouldn’t help a district-wide problem.

Recent class size and composition decisions also played a role. In 2017 school districts won the right for smaller classrooms with more teachers, prompting a flood of new hires and more classrooms.

“When you look at that factor and also include the increasing enrollment, that could possibly be a factor in the space we currently have in the district,” Burgos said.

There will be exceptions, such as if a student is bullied so badly they need to change schools.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit