School District 70 schools have reported a smooth and calm start to the school year so far, according to Greg Smyth, Superintendent of Schools.
“Administrators were reporting a much calmer start to this year. I think largely due to familiarity with students,” Smyth said.
According to Smyth’s report that he presented to SD70 trustees on Tuesday night, enrolment numbers have increased in both the Alberni Valley and on the West Coast.
“Total enrolment is above our projections for last year with the most notable increases in primary enrolment on the West Coast and secondary enrolment at ADSS,” Smyth said.
Smyth said empty seats and missing students aren’t being seen much in classrooms and that enrolment numbers are strong.
“Wickaninnish is at capacity but we were able to make some changes to the school by converting a computer lab into a classroom,” Smyth said. “It is tight so any further growth we’re going to have to monitor.”
Some class size limits have been exceeded at E.J. Dunn as a temporary measure, according to Smyth.
“We had 13 families on the waitlist at E .J. Dunn,” Smyth said. “We said let’s register them. Our goal in our Valley elementary schools has been to get kids registered and in school as quickly as possible and not having them wait on waiting lists for days or weeks.”
The growth in enrolment has represented additional staffing that wasn’t planned for last year.
karly.blats@albernivalleynews.com