Pembina Hills trustees voted 4-3 Wednesday to approve expanding the attendance area for Pembina North Community School (PNCS) to include a stretch of the Sunniebend Road from Highway 44 west to Range Road 272 for the coming school year
In a recorded vote, trustees Sheri Watson, Jan Hoffart, Jennifer Tuininga and Jackie Comeau voted in favour of altering the school’s attendance area, while Judy Lefebvre, Annette Bokenfohr and Kim Webster voted against it.
Webster noted that trustees had planned to review attendance areas this fall and this area was one scheduled for review. The plan was to include consultation with parents, municipal leaders and other stakeholders, she added.
Comeau, who had initially put forward the motion at the June 10 board meeting, brought forward letters from three families in the area voicing their support for altering the attendance area so students will go to PNCS, instead of Westlock Elementary School. No other families attending school right now would be affected by this change in attendance area, said Comeau. At this time, it would only add one pick-up for one child, but there is potential for future students to attend PNCS.
“As we have heard many times, in a small school, a couple of students coming or going makes a huge difference in a school’s budget,” she said.
In the past, buses used to travel down Sunniebend Road for at least 15 years, but this year the route was changed so that buses currently drive down a road slightly to the north. Given that the land surrounding that road is all farmland, there is “no chance” there will be any students ever being picked up along that road, she added.
“However, along the … Sunniebend Road, we have a lot of residences, and some of those families want to attend Dapp,” she said.
Comeau said that in order for Pembina North to remain viable, they need to think ahead and ensure there will be enough students attending PNCS.
Comeau noted that waiting until the fall attendance review means this change will not be enacted until 2016-2017, and that might result in at least one child deciding to go to Westlock Elementary School after having gone there for a year.
“I feel this is something that we can’t afford to wait on,” said Comeau.
Comeau said the extra cost of this change was calculated at an extra $2,080, which was a “blip” in the context of their budget.
Tuininga said she agreed with the change, noting that with the fall review, they would be seeking feedback; in this case, they’ve already gotten this feedback and the situation affects people right now.
“This is something that serves kids,” she added.
