Preliminary headcount shows student enrolment increase in School District 73

KAMLOOPS — A final headcount isn’t ready yet, but preliminary numbers show another increase in the number of students within the Kamloops-Thompson District for the 2022/23 school year.

“S.D. 73 has grown by almost 1,000 students. We’re nearly at the 16,000 (student) mark — and that’s exactly where we expected to be,” School District 73 Superintendent Rhonda Nixon told CFJC on Tuesday (Oct. 4).

In recent years, the district’s population has grown by approximately one elementary school worth of students per year. Depending on how that growth is dispersed, it could change what individual schools need — whether it’s multi-purpose rooms, additional support staff or new programs.

“All of those special programming decisions are made this week and next week, so headcount is really important in that regard,” she explains.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning interest spiked, and it’s now back to pre-pandemic levels. Nixon notes enrolment for Indigenous, international and second-language students is up, according to preliminary figures.

“We need to confirm that though with our (data) reconciliation that happens this week,” she adds. “When I asked why, I got a really good answers, actually. Our international students who are at TRU… a lot of our students bring children. And they haven’t been able to bring their children prior to the pandemic, so their children are coming.”

On the employment front, filling support staff positions is still a challenge.

“I do want to say, though, we’re looking for creative solutions with our employee executive groups,” says Nixon. “How might we attract people? What are the qualifications for those roles?”

Another trend at the start of this year is inflation. To combat the financial hit to families, S.D. 73 is opting to use $1.6 million dollars to boost its student and family affordability fund. The money is part of a one-time $60 million fund announced in August by the province.

Nixon says it’s allowed the district to expand current offerings and make things easier to access for all students.

“It is so good. It’s going to alleviate costs of school supplies, extra school fees, looking at additional meal programs, supplementing those programs.”

The enrolment increase also means capital funding needs in the district haven’t diminished. The district will be taking an in-depth look at enrolment data later this month, and reassessing whether space and building priorities need adjusting.