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District wants to keep Mackenzie schools open |
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Written by FRANK PEEBLES
Citizen staff
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Wednesday, 21 May 2008 |
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SCHOOL DISTRICT
Superintendent Brian Pepper said the school board will hold its May 27 board meeting in Mackenzie and its message will be that schools there will remain open and operating as usual next year.
"It is our intent to keep all Mackenzie schools open," Pepper said Wednesday.
A letter to that effect has been sent to parents of Mackenzie Secondary School, Mackenzie elementary school and Morfee elementary school.
Funding for a district is based on a per-pupil count held every September after classes have been in session a couple of weeks. In order to properly allocate teachers and other resources, it is necessary for districts to do their own studies so they have a good idea what those numbers will be in advance of the official head count. In most neighbourhoods, SD57 officials usually project accurately within a few students in each grade. That becomes harder when entire workforces are potentially on the move in the weeks and months ahead, or at least in limbo.
"The final enrolment numbers won't be known until the end of September and it is a challenge to project, obviously," Pepper said. "I am not confident we will be able to know exactly what the numbers will be for Mackenzie. I am confident we will be reasonably close given the information we have today. The principals and vice-principals in those three schools have had extensive discussions with their parent community, and so they have a reasonable idea where we are to this point. As economic factors play out, things could change, but we are trying to stay current on that."
Parents and other partner groups and stakeholders are invited to sign up to speak directly to trustees at the Tuesday meeting in Mackenzie.
The meeting is expected to be broadcast live on the Internet (www.sd57.bc.ca) that night, and there will also be a videoconference link at the Prince George district office so local stakeholders can speak to trustees.
Holding the meeting in Mackenzie during the height of the mill closure crisis there is a coincidence. Trustees hold May meetings there on a triennial basis, rotating it with McBride and Valemount from year to year. This happened to be Mackenzie's turn to host. It will take place at 7 p.m. at Mackenzie secondary.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 May 2008 )
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