Proposed closure of Muriel Mould

Ray LeMoigne, superintendent of schools for School District 91 recently announced that the Board of Education has approved a plan to begin public consultations on $3.8 million dollars in budget reductions that could see the closure of several schools in the district ,including Muriel Mould Primary school (MMPS).

The Board of Education is facing an anticipated budget shortfall of approximately $3.5 million in the 2010/2011. This is part of a projected total shortfall of between $4 million and $5 million over the next two to three years.

Proposed cutbacks include $1,875,486 in district level reductions, $1,347,011 in school level reductions and the proposed school closures of MMPS and Topley Elementary school (TES) which will save a total of $593,233.

"You can't take $3.8 million dollars out of the budget and not have an impact on programs, services and people," said LeMoigne.

"Our staff have worked hard to cut more than $1.8 million at the district level first in order to minimize school level reductions," he added.

Shelley Strimbold, Board of School Trustees vice chair said, "Considering closing schools has involved some very difficult discussions. Nobody wants a school to close."

"Schools are the hub and often the heart of our community, financial constraints have forced us to reduce operational costs in order to continue providing quality education in the Nechako Lakes school district," she said.

Preliminary budget consultation meetings have been scheduled to be held across the school district and will provide an opportunity for community members to become better informed .

The Board of Education will also consult with community members regarding the proposed closures of MMPS and TES at scheduled community meetings.

"The budget plan is subject to public consultations, board policy, collective agreements and union consultations. If the public have suggestions, questions or concerns they may be raised at any of the scheduled consultation meetings, fax them to 1-250-567-4639 or email them to info@mail.sd91.bc.ca," said Ernie Mannering, director of instruction for School District 91.

"Decisions on school closure or re-configuration have not been made and will not be made without public consultation. The earliest date the board could reach a decision is at its public meeting on Monday, April 19, 2010," he added.

According to Mannering class sizes in School District 91 are already lower than the provincial average. Schools are funded based on student numbers and these are expected to fall again next year. As the number of students decline schools must also reduce expenditures.

"A total of $593,223 would be saved by closing TES and MMPS. If we decide not to do this an equal amount would need to be cut from somewhere else," said Mannering.

According to the Board of Education TES has declined to an enrollment of 25 students and the decline is expected to continue with a projection of just 19 enrollments in 2015 if the school was to remain open. TES has an operating capacity of 112 students.

Enrollment forecasts are based on information from the Ministry of Education, Statistics Canada, the B.C. Live Birth Registry and enrollment trends from among school catchment areas in the district.

"Forecasts beyond 2015 are significantly less reliable as it uses birth projections rather than actual births," said Mannering.

MMPS is also forecasted to suffer a decline in enrollments and by 2015 the Board of Education projects that there will be 101 students enrolled.

A total of 212 students were enrolled at MMPS in 1998, and with a capacity of 311 students the figure has dropped to 110 students in 2010.

Closing the schools will result in a re-shuffle of students who will have to travel to new schools in the district.

It is expected that TES students will travel to either Decker Lake Elementary school (DLES) or Babine Elementary school (BES) in Granisle.

"Closing TES should result in more single grade classrooms [at either DLES or BES] and fewer splits while it may increase class size," said LeMoigne.

Both schools have the capacity to accommodate the influx of students from TES.

MMPS students are expected to be moved to William Konkin Elementary school (WKE) which will require the school to become a kindergarten to Grade 7 school.

"Both schools can accommodate the combined enrollments and satisfy class size legislation. In addition we have room for growth as students move into each school's catchment area during the course of the school year," said Mannering.

"A total of $3.8 million is being cut. That will impact programs, services and people. Staff employment contracts will be honoured. Employee contracts cover layoff and transfer rights based on qualifications and seniority," he added.

WKE will continue to remain a dual track [offering both English and French Immersion] school.

Budget and school closure consultations will be held at Topley on March 1 2010 at 7 p.m. and at Burns Lake on March 2 2010 at 7 p.m.