Get involved, share your ideas and help us balance enrolment in our high schools.
Nov. 12, 2020 Update | Next Phase of Active Engagement Will Launch January 2021
We have developed two scenarios to balance enrolment at CBE high schools. These scenarios take into account the feedback we gathered during last fall's engagement opportunities along with our planning principles, fiscal reality, legislated mandates and other factors.
Last spring, we indicated that the next phase of active engagement - gathering feedback on scenarios - would launch this fall. This phase will now launch in January with engagement opportunities that are entirely virtual and online. We are continuing to work toward communicating a decision by fall 2021, with changes to be implemented in September 2022.
We will offer online surveys, discussion forums and virtual sessions for you to share your feedback on the two scenarios. We will also share a great deal of information about the scenarios through video and other digital means to make sure you have the details you need to participate in a meaningful way.
As we finalize the dates, times and details of the upcoming engagement opportunities, we will share the information on the High School Engagement webpage. Information will also be shared in upcoming e-newsletters, on Twitter and through other channels.
Background
Over the course of this engagement we will be asking for your input and feedback on how we can balance student enrolment across 20 of our high schools. Within the next five years, our projections show that 10 CBE high schools will be operating between 100 and 150 per cent of their capacity, while seven high schools will be operating between 50 and 85 per cent of their capacity. Only three high schools are projected to be within the balanced utilization range (85-100 per cent) that best supports student learning.
When student enrolment at a school is either too high or too low it affects student access, flexibility and choice in programming and extracurricular activities including athletics and clubs for students. It simply does not make sense to have several schools with an abundance of available space while many others are full beyond their capacity.
A decision is expected by fall 2021, with implementation beginning September 2022. Students currently in Grade 7 will be in Grade 10 in 2022-23. If you have a student this age or younger, your family will be affected by any changes that might result from this engagement process. While most current high school students will not be affected by changes, some Grade 10 students may be affected by potential changes.
In the fall of 2019, we held 12 in-person sessions and offered online engagement opportunities for staff, students, parents and the public. Feedback gathered will be shared on the CBE website and will be considered as we start to build options to balance enrolment at 20 of our high schools.
Thank you for your continued participation.
