Trick or Treat, watch their feet, maybe they'll close the school on your street!

Just in time for Halloween, Education Minister Shirley Bond has donned the robes of the Educational Grim Reaper, wriggled her finger and suggested that for school districts in the likes of Prince George and Prince Rupert it can’t be business as usual much longer.

Citing declining enrollment statistics in the province which have seen 7,000 less students in British Columbia’s schools this fall, Bond said that Ministry figures show that there is a 24 per cent decline and 19 per cent in Prince George, part of a growing trend not only in B. C. but across Canada and in some other parts of the world.

For her part, the Minister said she didn’t want to speculate on school closures, but seemed to intimate that possibility, with a statement that “Our primary consideration is making sure resources go into classrooms and not into half-empty buildings.”

The thumbnail lesson plan for declining education was reported on in the Vancouver Province and appears on that papers website this morning.

Parents should brace for more school closures in the province
Due to declining enrolment, B.C. has an excess of $8 billion in school buildings, says minister Shirley Bond
Kent Spencer
The Province
Monday, October 29, 2007

Parents should brace for more school closures because B.C. has an excess of $8 billion in school buildings, says the province.

Education Minister Shirley Bond told The Province that enrolments across B.C. declined by another 7,000 students this year.

"I don't want to speculate on closures, but I can tell you the loss of 7,000 students will have an impact over time," she said. "Our primary consideration is making sure resources go into classrooms and not into half-empty buildings."

Before the 2005-06 school year, province wide enrolment had dropped by 50,000 in just six years. More than 130 schools were closed during that time. "Fifty thousand is an entire community," Bond said.

Enrolments have declined 37 per cent in Vancouver since 2000-01,24 per cent in Prince Rupert and 18 per cent in Prince George.

"Those school districts cannot expect to operate with the same configuration," said Bond.

Maple Ridge, whose parents have won a year-long reprieve for three elementary schools, has lost about five per cent of its students since 2000-01.

She believes taxpayers don't want to see their money wasted on empty space: "Taxpayers want to make sure the space is used."

She said the dwindling student population is a worldwide phenomenon.

"When I met recently with Australia's education minister it was the same story. People are having fewer children. It is a significant shift in world demographics. It includes places like Quebec, Ontario, Ireland and Oregon."

Bond admitted the process is heart-wrenching to the parents and young students involved. "I've been a school trustee and I'm a parent. It is very challenging for families and school districts. Trustees have to find the appropriate balance," she said.

The ministry is looking at utilizing space by filling partially empty facilities with community programs.

"We're looking at the community hub model, including daycares and learning programs. It would use excess space all across the province."

B.C. Teachers Federation vice-president Susan Lambert called the closure of schools "unconscionable" during the current economic boom.

"The province has a $3.2-billion surplus," she said. "Every time a school is closed, it is traumatic for parents.

"The community fabric is woven over a neighbourhood school. Every parent wants their child to go to the same school from kindergarten to Grade 7. They want to minimize disruptions and maximize stability.

"Being able to walk to a nearby school increases physical fitness and fights obesity. I know some Grade 1s who spend two hours a day on buses. When schools close, it means ripping out the heart of the community," Lambert said.

kspencer@png.canwest.com

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Tell us by e-mail at provletters@
png.canwest.com or by fax to 604-605-2223.

Please include your name and address.