Enrolment numbers were higher than expected within the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division this year. (Photo 194050714 © Marian Vejcik | Dreamstime.com)

By Teena Monteleone

enrolment increase

SRPSD enrolment numbers surpass pre-pandemic levels

Nov 10, 2021 | 8:00 AM

The Saskatchewan River’s Public School Division (SRPSD) hasn’t seen this many students enrolled in their schools since 2017.

In highlights from their meeting Monday night, the Board of Education noted the numbers have also exceeded pre-pandemic enrolment.

“This year our September 30^th enrolment is 8,969 students Pre-K to [Grade] 12 and that’s a substantial increase over our projections,” said SRPSD Director of Education Robert Bratvold. “It’s just about 500 more than we projected and far more than we had last year.”

Last year, the division counted 8,583 students, but Bratvold explained that was a loose number since many kids, although registered at specific schools, didn’t actually attend because of the pandemic. In 2017, the division had just over 9,000 students registered.

“So, this is substantial,” Bratvold said. “Some of it is due to demographics. We have lots of new kids coming from within the city and outside. It’s a little difficult to explain [the increase] but its good to hear.”

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Bratvold believes the increase also has to do with what the work staff did in keeping families connected and supported and students protected during the pandemic.

“I think they see schools as good places to be with safety protocols in place and caring staff,” he explained.

As a result of the increased numbers, the board has added extra staff to support student learning including teachers, education assistants, social workers and some division based coaches. Bratvold said the higher enrolment should lead to more provincial funding as well.

“It also provides greater diversity and opportunity to provide different programs,” he said.

The SRPSD Distance Learning Centre, which allows students to attend online classes from their home was a welcome option for families during the pandemic and while enrolment numbers are lower than they were last year for students in Grades 1 through 8, Bratvold said it still serves a ‘fair number of students.’

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

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