The Richmond school district is considering not having any classes at Sea Island elementary this fall. With only 13 students registered at the school, the board of education will hold a special meeting on Wednesday to consider a recommendation from the superintendent to move all the students to Brighouse elementary for September.
According to the school district, the parents of the students have been informed of the recommendation.
A report to the board of education for its special meeting next week states that not offering an educational program next year is not the same as closing the school. In the event of a potential school closure, the School Act requires extensive consultation.
Earlier this year, there were only three kindergarten students registered at Sea Island elementary, so the school district decided they would not offer a kindergarten class.
Since April, the registration for next year has dropped from 22 to 13. Because of the small number of students, all students would have been in one class, and there would have been resource support and ELL support on only one and a half days per week. Furthermore, the librarian would only be there one day per week.
The drop in registrations was brought to the attention of school district staff just a week ago, the report explains, “which led to a high level of concern about the school district’s ability to offer an educationally sound program next year.”
Students from Burkeville who attend Brighouse elementary, which is about three kilometres away, are bused, and there is enough room on the bus for the additional students, according to the report.
While there is room for the students at Brighouse, the report also states that students can go to other schools as well, space permitting.
This year, there were 25 students in two classes at Sea Island elementary.
Sea Island elementary has some continuing education classes, and the report states these might be expanded if there are no students.
