The Aspen View Public Schools (AVPS) board of trustees resolved to maintain the status quo and not pursue closure of small schools within the division, during an annual review of their school closure policy.
Trustees met Nov. 23 at the division office, and superintendent Mark Francis brought the item forward for discussion.
“Most times we have three schools that fall under what we would call minimum critical enrolment,” he said. Francis added the board has the ability to accept as information that the schools – Smith, Grassland and Rochester – fall under the critical enrolment, or pursue a viability report as the first step to investigate closure.
“At this point I would say that I am satisfied with the level of education happening in all of the schools, and I put it before the board for discussion,” Francis said.
According to Policy 15 – School Closure, the board of trustees may consider closure of a school or grade division when student enrolment falls beyond a particular number, programming is ineffective, or the cost to keep the school operable is unreasonably high, among other conditions.
Trustee Candy Nikipelo said student enrolment in some of the division schools are “not where we’d like them to be” but traditionally they have been on the lower scale.
“As a board we need to decide what our comfort level I guess of where we currently stand,” she said.
Francis presented the student enrollment numbers for the three smallest schools, and said while there is some “yo-yoing” there is a downwards trend. In 2010, Grassland had 116 students, and today it sits at 81. Rochester went from 90 to 69, and Smith from 86 to 77.
Trusteee Tom Mykytiuk said the board already considered while looking at the fall 2017-2018 budget update whether they are comfortable with it, in terms of deficit.
“In my opinion I think we are probably comfortable with the status quo,” he said.
Francis agreed, saying there is a “big question mark” about the province’s future funding framework.
As it stands, Alberta’s student funding framework is on a per-student basis. AVPS joined 95 per cent of school boards across the province that voted in favour of the Alberta School Board Association’s motion made at the 2017 fall general meeting that the government undertake a review of the funding framework.
Francis said a shift in the funding framework could change dynamics “significantly” and it may be premature to start a potential closure process “if there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
“I do believe that unless the per student funding framework changes, this conversation next September will be a little more difficult,” he said. “We know we are going to lose more students next year.”
Nikipelo said she is “definitely in agreement” that if the board is satisfied with the budget currently, AVPS is not at a “critical level that we’re going to have to face that decision.”
“At least not this year,” she said. “I would like to wait until the government comes up with some new formulas for funding.”
The item was presented for discussion, and no motions were required.
Lease increase
Trustees voted unanimously to approve a 2.5 per cent lease increase for their division office requested by Athabasca County.
“Obviously no one wants to pay more money, however it is a very reasonable request,” Francis said. “We have not had a rent increase since 2009, yet costs have gone up for things such as cleaning.”
The increase would result in a annual rental of $66,625.
Trustee Nancy Sand said the request is “very reasonable” and made a motion to approve the lease increase.
