The Sea to Sky school board is hoping locals will help solve the problematic enrolment at two Squamish elementary schools.
Mamquam Elementary currently enrols significantly more students than its designated capacity and therefore has had portable classrooms on site for many years -and the school's population is only expected to continue to grow.
On the other hand, Stawamus Elementary has experienced declining enrolment over the last decade, causing challenges in operating such a small school.
The board is looking at options to address both of these circumstances and has emphasizes it is not considering closing schools. The board will inform the community on the issue with the hopes of receiving suggestions during various public meeting in May and into June.
"The idea of having these meetings is to outline the possibilities," said superintendent of schools Dr. Rick Erickson. "Nothing is decided at all yet and we're looking for as much public input as possible."
Erickson said the board has come up with potential solutions, which he said would take place until September 2011.
One would be to adjust several school boundaries between the two schools, or another to potentially move the French Immersion, which is currently at Mamquam Elementary, to another school in Squamish.
However the fact that the schools are so far away from one another - Mamquam Elementary in Garibaldi Highlands and Stawamus Elementary in Valleycliffe - creates difficulties with adjusting boundaries.
And changing the French Immersion program's location would mean a significant move.
He also mentioned the idea of grandfathering students who currently attend school in the area, to avoid "unduly upsetting the kids by changing their home base."
By only respecting new school boundaries for students coming into the schools, they would also be dealing with the classroom space challenges that come with introducing full day kindergarten.
"With half day kindergarten, the students only need one class room - morning and afternoon class," said Erickson. "But with full day kindergarten, they'll need two classrooms, even with no change in student enrolment."
School boundaries were reinforced a few years ago and that lessened Mamquam Elementary's enrolment enough to divest itself of one portable classroom, but two remain in use.
During the presentation the board will outline the complications of each option.
"We'll present exact numbers such as the number of students who would have to move from each school if the boundaries were adjusted," said Erickson.
The first public meeting will take place at Totem Hall on May 5 at 7 p.m. and the second will be held at Brackendale Elementary School on May 6 at 7 p.m. All parents are encouraged to participate in the consultation process as the final decision may affect other Squamish elementary schools.
There will be another set of meetings later in the month, another at Brackendale Elementary on May 31 at 7 p.m. and at Totem Hall on June 3 at 7 p.m.
Erickson said he's hoping a lot of the community will show up. Written feedback will be accepted until Sept. 30, 2010 and the school board plans to make a decision on Nov. 10, 2010.
"The most important thing about public education is getting the public input, because they are the ones who are directly affected."
