Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) Senior Administration presented the Pupil Accommodation Report 2019/2020 to Trustees at the October 22, 2019 Board Meeting.
In compliance with the LKDSB’s regulation and Ontario Ministry of Education directions, Senior Administration presented the report, which includes the LKDSB’s current and future enrolment demographics, financial considerations and school site information.
The LKDSB has an enrolment of 21,895 in 2019-2020, with an overall capacity utilization of 72.3 per cent as of September 20, 2019. Over the past 10 years, there has been an 11.2 per cent enrolment decline, including six elementary schools with populations under 150 students and four secondary students with populations under 400 students.
The 10-year projections indicate the LKDSB will continue to experience declining enrolment and by 2029, the LKDSB expects enrolment to decrease by approximately 621 students.
Declining enrolment has a direct impact on Ministry funding and overall utilization of facilities.
Additionally, the LKDSB continues to maintain aging facilities. Moving forward, the LKDSB must continue to review its capital needs in order to support academic programming and provide an equitable allocation of resources and student supports.
“The Pupil Accommodation Report highlights the ongoing challenges facing the LKDSB: declining enrolment and related funding challenges, and aging facilities,” stated Director John Howitt in a press release.
“Although there continues to be a moratorium on school consolidations, the LKDSB feels it is important to be transparent about its pupil accommodation and capital needs in order to inform future planning. As we work through these challenges, we remain focused on fostering student success and well being.”
In June 2018, the Ministry of Education re-introduced the moratorium on school consolidations and school boards were advised the provincial government would be reviewing the school closure process.
A date for the release of the revised process has not been set.
The complete Pupil Accommodation Report 2019/2020 can be found on the LKDSB website:
http://www.lkdsb.net/Board/AccommodationReview/Pages/default.aspx.
