Enrollments up more than predicted in Catholic school district

Enrollments jumped by more than expected this year for Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools.
 
Officials had been expected an increase of 1.7 to 1.8 percent.
 
Superintendent Karl Germann says the actual increase was five percent or close to 250 kids.
 
“The good news that came out of that was that our board had staffed us with extra teachers, so we had already hired and put the people in place because once it comes down to the last two weeks before school, it becomes difficult to find people to work.”
 
Germann says the total number of kids enrolled in Catholic district schools is now 5390. He adds they do have enough space to hold everybody.
 
“We just opened two schools in the last two years, so St. Catherine is now open and so is John Paul II. The long-term growth has us gaining quite a few students over the next 10 years, so it’s going to be our continual plan and lobbying with the government, the trustees will continue to do that.”
 
Germann says the increase came about because a lot of people are moving to Grande Prairie.
 
“The school system is one of the best predictors of what’s going to happen to the community. What we found as we went through our in-and-out reports is that there is a substantial population moving into Grande Prairie for work. It is one of the better places that you can find work and stay employed and raise a family. Once people are settled here, they’re generally staying here as well.”    
 
Germann says if this growth rate continues, the District will have 8000 students in another decade or so.