The final fall enrolment numbers are in for the Qualicum School District and indicate a decrease of 48 students.
Enrolment is down overall in elementary schools, but there is a slight rise at Ballenas Secondary School, according to Associate Superintendent of Schools Gillian Wilson.
"Ballenas is higher in their projections and KSS (Kwalikum Secondary School) is a little bit lower in their projections," Wilson said. "Most of the students that are going over to Ballenas, some of them enjoy the football and we have football only at Ballenas Secondary School."
The district budgeted for 4,415 students, with 4,367 recorded in schools as of Sept. 27. In Sept. 2023, there were 4,408.
Part of the decline can be attributed to families choosing to enrol their children in the new Coast Karma Learning Centre in Parksville, which provides an education setting for neurodiverse learners, in particular, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Wilson said she did not have an exact number for how many children have left for the new school, but added the district has seen a change in children who fall into the Level 2 funding category for the Ministry of Education, intended for children living with autism.
“We’re down about 22 children in that particular area. So we can surmise, but I couldn’t confirm that all of those children have gone to Coast Karma,” Wilson said during the board of ducation's Oct. 22 meeting. “Families make decisions based on their information about knowing their child and what they want to do and I think we have to be okay with a family making decisions based on their knowledge and what they want to see for their child."
The school district's September budget reductions anticipated the decline in enrolment and the funding its brings, and it's expected the amended budget will be balanced.
Funding is determined by the district's student population and the Ministry of Education collects data three times per year in September, February and May (online learning only). The operating grant from the ministry is adjusted based on actual enrolment numbers.
Staffing is anticipated to decrease over the course of the district's 2024 to 2027 financial plan.
"Over the last number of years, the district has been in a period of a varying enrolment changes and staffing adjustments were made to address program needs," the financial plan reads. "At this time growth has slowed, future enrolment is less certain, and budgeted staffing levels will need to match district needs."
Funding will be adjusted again after an enrolment count in February.
