Regina school divisions address capacity issues

When schools reach capacity in Regina, it means they need to be more creative to find the extra space.

That often involves turning multi-purpose areas originally intended to provide space for things like an art room, science projects or drama practice into regular classrooms.

“Maybe now they’re doing drama practice in the library after school and maybe art is happening in the hallway or back in the classroom,” said Regina Catholic School Division (RCSD) spokesperson Twylla West.

This is not a new practice and it’s done at both Catholic and public schools in the city.

“We believe with the way we’re dealing with the capacity issues that students are still getting the types of education that we promise as a school division,” said Regina Public School Division spokesperson Terry Lazarou.

Government data shows 70 schools in Saskatchewan are at or over 100-per-cent capacity, with 20 of those schools being over 120-per-cent capacity. Twenty-one of the schools exceeding 100-per-cent capacity are in Regina, while 18 are in Saskatoon.

Lazarou explained a lot of the schools that are experiencing capacity issues were designed to have flex space, including École Harbour Landing Elementary School.

“Ironically or coincidentally, a lot of the growth and capacity issues has been in our newer schools,” said Lazarou.

He said it’s a good problem for the province to have as it sees growth, with more people moving into newer neighbourhoods. However, as the kids attending elementary school in Harbour Landing grow up, they’ll need a high school to attend in five to 10 years.

“We would really appreciate some consideration from the Ministry of Education on that issue of a southeast high school,” said Lazarou.

The RCSD’s projections show it also will need a new high school in south Regina. West said multi-use spaces have already been turned into classrooms at the multi-use school in Harbour Landing.

St. Kateri is very full, at 557 students as of March. There are 55 Grade 8 students compared to a wave of 85 kindergarten students. Across the RCSD, there are 808 Grade 11 students, with more Grade 1 students, at 949. West explained that as this wave of younger students moves through the system and enters high school, they will need to find the extra space.

While dealing with overcrowding is something RCSD continues to address, that’s not its top priority.

“Our current need is heavier on the side of rebuilding facilities rather than necessarily new facilities,” said West.

The school division’s top priority is the rebuild of older schools like St. Pius. That was addressed with funding in the provincial budget.