With September just around the corner, Richmond teachers prepare to hit the chalk in the next couple of weeks, hopefully refreshed after a tumultuous 2011-2012 school year, riddled in dispute with the government.
"It's hard to get a sense of the mood just yet," said Richmond District superintendent Monica Pamer. "Though not everyone was satisfied with the way things left off, people had time to regroup. We were a bit stalemated there."
Pamer acknowledged issues will probably continue to arise, but the settlement at least provided a sense of optimism.
"It won't be the same as before, but more stable than last year," she said.
And as the teachers pass through Richmond schools' doors, so do the students - approximately 21,000 of them have enrolled across the city this year. The figure confirms the gradual decline in enrollment over the past few years across District 38.
The student population has been in a steady decline, losing close to 200 to 300 students annually, according to Pamer.
Between 2001 and 2011, elementary school enrollment decreased by 1,272, while in the same time period, secondary schools saw a 674 decline, according to the Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) interim report released last November.
"There are a number of reasons for this decline," Pamer said. "One speculation is that young families are moving away because they can't afford Richmond housing prices anymore. In fact, it's a trend seen across the Lower Mainland with the exception of Surrey, which is growing."
However, within the city's various pockets and neighbourhoods, certain areas still witness growth, most notably the city centre, said Pamer.
As new developments and housing become centered in that area, a correlating increase in school enrollment follows.
"That area is growing now and enrollment is projected to grow there as well over the next few years," said Pamer.
Not surprisingly, a similar decline in projected enrollment has occurred throughout neighbourhoods filled with single-family dwellings - due to the lack of housing affordability in those areas.
According to the LRFP report, future development will continue to be targeted in the city centre.
The report expects 42,000 new Richmondites by 2021, and 280,000 by 2041. The majority of new dwellings (more than 25,000 to be built by 2021) will be in this area.
Of the city's 38 elementary schools, capacity issues are identified at Anderson, Brighouse, Cook, Homma, and Whiteside. Richmond secondary falls into the same category amongst the 10 high schools.
Following the data, the City of Richmond will plan for new schools to be built in the city centre and in the neighbourhoods surrounding those schools estimated to exceed capacity in the short and long term.
