Qualicum School District Delays Decisions on Catchment Boundary Changes

The Qualicum School District board of education has postponed its decision regarding proposed changes to school catchment boundaries. This delay comes as the board evaluates adjustments aimed at alleviating overcrowding at Springwood Elementary and addressing projected declines in enrollment at Nanoose Bay Elementary.

The board is considering reassigning neighborhoods located south of Highway 19A, between Pym Street and Renz Road, to École Oceanside Elementary. Additionally, areas east of the Englishman River, including San Pareil, may be redirected to Nanoose Bay Elementary. These changes are part of an effort to balance the district’s student population, particularly as Springwood Elementary and Ballenas Secondary School currently face overcapacity issues.

During a board meeting on January 27, 2024, trustee Julie Austin expressed her appreciation for the efforts made to communicate these changes to the public. She noted that many parents and guardians felt confused and surprised during a recent town hall meeting. According to survey results, a significant number of attendees were unclear about the proposed adjustments. Austin remarked, “I was actually very surprised there were no questions because I think people were still kind of going ‘what?’”

The last review of catchment boundaries occurred in 2022, when enrollment was on the rise. At that time, Springwood Elementary had to convert a multi-purpose room into a classroom to accommodate the growing student body. Peter Jory, superintendent of schools, highlighted the shift in circumstances, stating, “We’re in a different scenario these days; generally, enrollment is going the other direction.” He added that the decline in student numbers affects the district’s budget, necessitating staffing adjustments.

Currently, the school district serves approximately 4,200 students, a number projected to fall below 4,000 within five to six years. Most schools are expected to see slight to moderate declines, with Kwalikum Secondary School anticipated to decrease from 747 to 654 students by 2031. In contrast, Nanoose Bay Elementary is expected to drop from 316 students to 214 in the coming years.

Jory advised the board to consider elementary and secondary school changes separately, citing more urgent pressures at Springwood. He pointed to several housing developments in Parksville that have not yet been included in enrollment forecasts. “In anticipation of those changes, I’m going to suggest to the board that they carry on with the approval of the changes to the elementary catchments,” he said.

The board plans to revisit the elementary school catchment changes in its meeting scheduled for February 24, 2024. However, decisions regarding the boundary between Kwalikum Secondary and Ballenas Secondary will be deferred until 2027, following local elections and the formation of a new board. Proposed adjustments would assign neighborhoods west of Lowrys and Oceanside Place Arena, as well as north of Highway 19, to Kwalikum Secondary.

Jory described the Kwalikum-Ballenas adjustment as a proactive measure, warning that the district is on a “collision course” with an anticipated increase in students at Ballenas Secondary, while Kwalikum faces a significant decline. The school board’s intention is to ensure long-term balance between the two institutions.

Once the board finalizes its decisions on the catchment boundaries, any changes will take effect in the following September. Students affected by the new boundaries will retain “legacy status,” enabling them to continue attending their current school if they prefer, even if the boundary changes place them in a different catchment. Additionally, younger siblings of legacy students will be prioritized for enrollment at the same school, space permitting.