PRSD enrolment down 47 FTEs, will now run $410,000 deficit

Prairie Rose School Division secretary/treasurer Ryan Boser informed trustees at Tuesday’s public meeting that this year’s enrolment numbers are going to come in significantly below what was projected in the spring.

This year’s decrease will leave the division with a total reduction of 47 full-time students, and a projected deficit of $410,000 for the 2017/18 school year. In the spring count, PRSD predicted an increase of eight full-time students overall in the division and a balanced budget.

Boser tabulated the enrolment numbers as calculated on the last full school day in September. The division actually lost 60 FTE students total, clarified Boser, but made up for some of the losses with increased enrolment in parttime, off-campus ECS programs. Some division schools were definitely affected more than others with significant drops registered in Irvine (16 fewer FTE students), Margaret Wooding in Redcliff (10 fewer) and Seven Persons (10 fewer). The biggest drop came at Redcliff Mennonite Alternative Program (20 fewer). The only clear bright spots were Burdett School and Senator Gershaw School in Bow Island, which saw 10 and 12 more full-time students enrolled respectively this year over last.

Boser said division staff will be looking to cut costs and put off some expenditures to mitigate the effects of a projected loss of $410,000 in revenue this year.

“We, of course, have a goal line throughout this whole process,” explained Boser. “That goal is two things: To try to impact as least as possible our current staffing, and also the effect on our schools.”