By Cheryl Jahn

School District looks at adjustments

Feb 10, 2025 | 11:17 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – Some changes may be in the wind for School District 57. With the potential for a nine per cent decline in enrolment, there may have to be some considerations by the School District Board of Education with respect not only catchments, but potential closures.

The report conducted by H. Ahking & Co. looked at trends for the next 10 years.

It suggested four elementary schools that are projected to be overcapacity by 2033. They are: Springwood, Heritage, Peden Hill and Vanway.

The report also suggests there may need to be catchment adjustments for College Heights Elementary and Malaspina, Malaspina and Vanway and Beaverly and Vanway. The report suggests those adjustments would reduce the need for portables and optimal school capacity.

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“If there were pinch points where we were really starting to overflow and having to look at just not enough spaces, then absolutely you would have to look at catchment,” says Chair of the Board for the Education Board, Craig Brennan. “We have another report that’s called Catchment and Capacity, which examines the available seats and the pressures in those communities.”

The report suggests some changes to rural K- 12 schools. Specifically, it suggests the district consider the elementary and secondary schools in both McBride and Valemount, as well as Morfee Elementary and Mackenzie.

Finally, the report also suggests closing three school closures: Giscome Elementary, Hixon Elementary and Van Bien Elementary.

It is not a new issue for Brennan.

“When you get the long-range facilities report the first thing that most people do is look at the recommendations to see how would this impact my school or my community. And that’s fair. You want to know what’s happening. But again, I would caution everyone to say it is a long-range facilities report and it is recommendations for years, one through ten, the ones that are right in front of us at this time.”