Overcrowding in classrooms

A number of classrooms at NorKam and Sahali secondary schools are facing overcrowding due to enrolment pressures, but the average size of classrooms across the district appears to be shrinking slightly.

A report to School District 73's board of education states there are no elementary classes exceeding student capacity, but 17 secondary classes are — most of them band or music classes.

As of Oct. 31, the average kindergarten class size grew by 0.1 when compared to last year to an average of 17.6, grades 1 to 3 stayed the same at 19.4, grades 4 to 7 fell by 0.6 to 23.9 and grades 8 to 12 decreased by 0.2 to an average size of 22.8.

Schools in B.C. are required to keep kindergarten classes below 22 students. Grades 1 to 3 must be under 24, and classes from grades 4 to 12 are required to stay under 30 unless the organization of the class is appropriate for a large number of students.

Grant Reilly, SD73's assistant superintendent of early learning and elementary education, said several NorKam classrooms are over capacity due to a large number of Grade 12 students following a catchment change that came into effect this fall.

“As a result of those enrolment pressures, we've had a few classes that have had to exceed 30,” Reilly said.

The enrolment pressures are expected to be balanced out with Brocklehurst secondary next year.

SD73 assistant superintendent of secondary education Lisa Carson said several classes at Sahali Secondary had more than 30 students due to enrolment pressures, as well.

“It’s actually a remarkable job by the school administration to get their class sizes balanced, as well as what they have been able to do at South Kamloops secondary,” Carson said.

Sahali secondary school is projected to reach 170 per cent capacity by 2030.

Reilly said NorKam and Sahali are still in compliance with class size requirements, which allow a buffer of one or two students.

Carson also noted band and music classrooms, some of which have 40 to 58 students, are allowed to hold a large number of students because it benefits the class.