More kids are enrolled in Delta schools.
According to the latest figures submitted to the Ministry of Education, Delta’s school population now stands at 15,366.
That represents an increase of 75 students from last year. Elementary schools saw the total population increase by 93 but the number of secondary students is down by 18.
The elementary population is up in North Delta and Tsawwassen but down in Ladner, while the secondary population dipped in North Delta and Tsawwassen but was up in Ladner.
The overall student population number includes the 288 enrolled in Delta’s academy programs, but not the hundreds of international students. The enrollment number includes approximately 2,000 kids who go to Delta schools but reside in Surrey.
The current projection is for enrollment to remain fairly level for a few years before moderate, steady increases begin.
Last year, the district’s enrollment climbed by 24 students, while in 2016 the enrollment was up 13 from the previous year.
It can be seen as good news for a district that experienced years of declining student numbers, and the loss of per-pupil dollars, forcing budget cuts in the millions.
Enrollment peaked at almost 19,000 students in 1980 and remained relatively stable for the next two decades, but then began to decline.
Today’s stabilized enrollment has meant smaller deficits for the operating budget to the point the district experienced a small surplus this spring.
However, it turned out that surplus ended up being bigger than expected at about $5 million. That’s due in part to not only additional revenues from the International Student Program but largely the district having a tough time filling staffing vacancies to meet the collective agreement between the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and province.
Board chair Laura Dixon told the Optimist that while regular teaching positions have been filled this school year, there’s unspent dollars due to the hard time finding enough substitute teachers and educational assistants.
“If you look at it in the greater context, we basically saved three per cent on our overall spending last year. We would have preferred to put that in staffing but there was a B.C.-wide shortage. We are doing ongoing hiring for EAs and teachers on-call,” said Dixon.
