Low enrolment, limited interest has SD58 in Merritt examining options on class structures

MERRITT — Amid budgetary pressure and the possibility of a school closure in Merritt, the Nicola-Similkameen School District (SD58) has been forced to get creative in an effort to support students.

Decreasing enrollment over the past number of years has put some programs in jeopardy due to limited interest from students. It’s forced the board to look at three options to ensure that students can still take the courses they need as they prepare for post-secondary.

“We are saying we actually have to look at that over an 18 month to two-year period, because if I need Physics 12 and I need my Math and Physics 11, well maybe I’m doing those in grade 10 and 11 or the first and second semester in grade 11, so I can take the other course,” SD58 Board Chair Gordon Swan said.

“So that grade 11 student might be taking physics 12 in their second semester (of grade 11) which they can do. We can do that to make sure we have the right number of students in classes because that is a concern.”

By working on a two-year model, Swan says courses would have higher enrollment, allowing it to be taught in-person instead of virtually.

“All three models are there, that we are looking at how we maximize that and looking at putting the student first,” added Swan.

“So in order to get you to graduate in grade 12 instead of looking six months at a time, what does a year-and-a-half look like in your journey to make sure we get you the right credentials so that you can go on to post-secondary, whether that is in a trade or at a university.”

None of the options being looked at have been approved by the SD58 board at this time.