Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district is expected to bring an end to its late-French immersion program.
The decade-old program allows students French immersion entry in Grade 6, but there has been "low uptake" and "consistent attrition" before Grade 7, staff stated in a report. At a board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 18, trustees are expected to vote on a Dec. 11 business committee recommendation to stop accepting late-immersion enrolment in 2025-26, ultimately leading to an end in 2026-27.
According to the report, the program, based at École Quarterway, has never been fully enrolled, nor has there been a wait-list. In 2024-25, the Grade 6 cohort consists of 20 students, with Grade 7 including 25 students. In 10 years, Grade 6 enrolment has never exceeded 27 students, with a low of 16 pupils in 2019, according to district numbers. Ending late French immersion would lead to $421,000 in savings in 2026-27.
Jo Cornthwaite, Nanaimo District Teachers' Association president, told the News Bulletin that French immersion is important in a bilingual country.
"Some students are not necessarily ready for French Immersion at age five, but they are when they reach age 10," she said. "Students on Gabriola Island do not have the option to attend French immersion at that point because most parents, of course, would not be comfortable sending their five-year-old on the bus, as opposed to sending an older child."
Jessica Krog-Irving, district parent advisory council president, has had her children in the program. She told the News Bulletin the council was surprised, as the proposal wasn't mentioned at a meeting with district staff in November, but also understands that a 20-student class isn't necessarily feasible.
"It's unfortunate. The district could have and should have been doing a better job of promoting the program over the last few years. It's a really good program, and it's an awesome opportunity for students to access French," she said.
The school district won't consult with the public as it usually does. At the Dec. 11 meeting, Mark Walsh, district secretary-treasurer, said the board is "absolutely in its authority" to offer consultation, but with Christmas holidays coming, staff wouldn't likely report back until the end of February, causing timing concerns.
"We're starting to have enrolment and so those kids are going to get enrolled in [Grade 6]. We're going to say, ‘Sorry families, you need to wait.' Are we going to hold spots in their [catchment] schools? … we essentially offer access, and then we take it away … I want to acknowledge that that is an absolutely legitimate concern, and the rationale for why we brought the motion forward in the way that we've brought it."
Cornthwaite expressed concern that there's normally a public process for scrutinizing and making decisions on programs that doesn't appear to be happening in this case.
"They're absolutely within their rights to do so, but there has been public consultation as well as consultation with the school community about the removal of [other] programs, and there hasn't been any consultation [here]," she said.
At the business committee meeting, Greg Keller, board vice-chairperson, said trustees are making a difficult decision.
"There's various challenges we're facing across the district and our classrooms and I know there's been some comments with respect to consultation, I respect that," said Keller. "I'm usually the first one to say, 'Yes, that's a great idea.' In this case, I don't think that's going to make a difference. I'm reluctant to ask people for feedback if we're not going to use it. It would not be a meaningful consultation process if this program is no longer viable based on the numbers."
Trustees Tania Brzovic, Tim Harris and Chantal Morvay voted against the recommendation.
Cornthwaite and the teachers' union will speak in favour of the program in a presentation at the upcoming board meeting.
