The Richmond School District is looking at a $1.5 million shortfall as enrolment numbers are lower than projected in the spring.
The largest drop is in elementary school students, but there are also fewer special education and Indigenous students as well.
The drop of 150 full-time equivalent students in elementary schools and 20 high schools students translates to a loss of about $1.14 million.
There was an increase, however, of 20 students enrolled in Richmond Virtual School than originally anticipated.
In the meantime, a drop of 48 (level three) special needs students means almost half a million dollars less in education grants.
The enrolment report is on the agenda for Wednesday evening’s board meeting, and deputy superintendent Rick Ryan notes the grant this year will be $1,545,300 less than expected “assuming (there are) no funding formula changes or adjustments.”
The Ministry of Education does a recalculation at the end of September of how many students are enrolled in school district to determine the actual education funding for the year.
The school district received about $7 million from the federal government to cover extra costs incurred during the pandemic.
The Richmond Board of Education meeting takes place Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. To watch it via Zoom, click here and register.
