The Superintendent of the Peace Wapiti Public School Division Bob Stewart has recommended Woking School be permanently closed following the 2020-21 school year (Photo: Woking School / Facebook)

By Shaun Penner

Woking School

Low enrolment, funding leads to recommendation to close Woking School

Mar 31, 2021 | 12:05 PM

The Board of Trustees of the Peace Wapiti Public School Division will be voting on whether or not to keep Woking School open at the end of April, as administration has recommended the school be closed at the end of the year.

Superintendent Bob Stewart initially made the recommendation to close the school to the Board in mid-February, citing low student enrolment and rising operational costs placed upon the division.

Even with that, Stewart admits it was a tough recommendation to make.

“As I certainly understand the importance of the school facility to the community,” said Stewart.

“But, given the historical enrolment decline, there comes a point where we have to stop and assess whether greater educational opportunities could be offered to the students at a nearby school.”

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Stewart says the student population for Grade K-8 school in the Saddle Hills County hamlet, located about 50 kilometres north of downtown Grande Prairie along Highway 677, is slated to drop below 35 students moving forward.

“And our utilization is approximately 25 per cent of the enrolment capacity of the school,” said Stewart. “Next year, we’re looking at possible drops to somewhere around the 20 per cent area.”

The other side to his recommendation is the rising costs the division faces to keep the school operational, due to changes in the provincial funding model for smaller, rural schools.

“When you drop below 35 students on a weighted-moving-average, you’re funding basically drops by about $210,000 if you’re about five students below that 35.”

Following his recommendation in February, Stewart was directed by the board to first engage with community stakeholders on what their thoughts were on the closure.

Through that public engagement, Stewart says he found the community has mixed feelings about such a move.

“There’s a degree of sadness, absolutely. But there is also a level of understanding and acknowledging perhaps that a school such as Spirit River Regional Academy actually might offer an increase or a better opportunity for their children.”

Should the board vote to approve the closure of the school at the end of the year, students living to the east of Highway 2 in the current Woking School catchment area would be bussed to Rycroft School, while all others would go to Spirit River Regional Academy.

However, Stewart says any children who are directed to Rycroft School will be granted a one-time permanent opportunity to go to Spirit River Regional Academy prior to the 2021-22 school year.

“That’s part of what we heard from the parents, is they really don’t want their children to be separated from their friends,” said Stewart.

A notice of motion has been brought forward for discussion and a vote on the decision at the April 29 board meeting.