Falling enrolment a concern at some Charlottetown schools

While a decision about the overcrowding situation at Charlottetown's Spring Park Elementary School will be made by Prince Edward Island's English Language School Board Tuesday, others are worried about declining student numbers.

P.E.I. Home and School Federation president Peter Rukavina said the issue of empty classrooms is also a concern.

"There are school buildings that are underutilized and school buildings that are overutilized and we haven't done anything about that in a generation or two," said Rukavina.

Three other city schools have student populations in buildings designedto hold double their current enrolment. West Kent Elementary has about 160 students, St. Jean Elementary has 109 and Birchwood Intermediate has over 200.

Rukavina said while it can be complicated and political, there should be a better system to deal with the changing demographics in Charlottetown.

"I think it's time for a wholesale review of everything."

Jim MacAulay was a longtime educator and worked as a consultant with the Eastern School District. He says he helped write a report about declining student numbers 20 years ago.

In the time since, MacAulay said little has changed and its time the school board looked at rezoning.

"I always thought there should be some rezoning done. But, again you're back into a controversial type of thing, in the city of Charlottetown, I found people react very negatively to moving three blocks."

Schools closed in 2009

In 2009, the school board did close eights schools in rural P.E.I.

St. Jean was on the list but was spared.

Birchwood wasn't on the closure list at that time but now its home and school group is worried about the low student numbers and has requested more students be sent there.

The Home and School Association at West Kent also want more students says co-chair Jill Cunniffe.

"Over the last few years, we've noticed we have declining enrolments. Big classes are coming out of Grade 6 and smaller classes are coming in," said Cunniffe.

"There's a need for a critical mass of students to have a vibrant school community."

MacAulay said healthy student populations are required to justify the resources.

"Certain programs aren't being offered in certain places because they haven't got the numbers, they haven't got the people," said MacAulay.

"I expect we'll see some rezoning and I'll expect we'll see some school closures in the future. From an economic point of view, from an educational point of view from a business point of view it makes sense."