Foreign student enrolment, among the richest sources of income for the Sea to Sky School District, is not being jeopardized by the global economic crisis, despite a Lower Mainland trend that may see a dramatic 25 per cent decline.
"I think parents seem to be turning away from wanting their kids in big urban school districts," said Amy Shoup, Sea to Sky School District International Education manager. "They see Squamish as a safer environment with more recreational opportunities."
International student enrolment in Squamish schools has seen unprecedented growth in the last 12 years, said Shoup, and many students are flocking to Squamish because of the 2010 Winter Games.
"We have not been impacted by the global economic crisis yet and the Olympics are proving to be interesting for international students," Shoup said.
About 123 international students attend public schools in the Sea to Sky School District, paying tuition of $10,000 to $15,000. In past years, it has translated into revenues of nearly $2 million for the school district,but students also bring other valuable assets.
"The international program benefits the school district in a variety of ways in terms of giving students a cultural exchange experience. There is also a financial benefit to the district as well," said Shoup.
According to the International Public School Education Association (IPSEA) each student also brings about $32,000 of economic benefit to the community.
"When you add up homestay fees, money spent on entertainment and tuition, you get a great deal of economic benefit going to the community," Shoup said. "We have declining numbers in our school district so the international program keeps our numbers up."
Shoup said students from 15 different countries are attending schools in the Sea to Sky Corridor, including Germany, Hong Kong, Korea, China and Mexico.
Across the province, about 13,000 international students go to B.C. public schools. With a population size of about 13 per cent of Canada's total, British Columbia hosts about 30 per cent of all international students in Canada.
"We have a recruiter that lives in Beijing and works with the Asian markets. The Korean economy was hit hard but we don't rely heavily on Korea for students," Shoup said.
Rose Mackenzie, Sea to Sky School District director of education, said the international program is advertised online.
"Most of the students come to be immersed in the English language. We had so many German students in one class they complained because they had a tendency to speak German to each other," Mackenzie said.
In Squamish, international students are integrated into public school curriculum with added English as a Second Language classes. Most students rely on homestay programs for accommodation with exception of elementary students who must be accompanied with at least on parent in Canada said Shoup.
The School District has a contract with an independent contractor to place students in appropriate homestay. As a member of a family, students are expected to participate in family activities and routines of the family said Shoup.
The homestay cost ranges from $800 to $900 per month. The students pay the homestay family directly on a monthly basis.
"I think despite everything our program will continue to grow in a viable and sustainable way," Shoup said.
