SRSS to add Grade 9s from nearby schools

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This article was published 02/12/2014 (4183 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Four Hanover School Division communities will lose their Grade 9 students to Steinbach beginning next fall.

Hanover school trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to support boosting the student population at the Steinbach Regional Secondary School by adding about 200 students from Mitchell, Blumenort, Kleefeld and New Bothwell after a majority of survey respondents supported the change.

The trustees who spoke said although they understood the concerns of parents who loved their small schools and were uneasy about the big change, they felt all high school students should begin their SRSS experience at the same entry point.

“This is a bridge I would like all Grade 9s to cross together,” said trustee Ruby Wiens.

Opinions were most divided in New Bothwell where 50 percent of respondents supported the move, 33 percent were against, and 17 percent were undecided. Support was strongest in Blumenort where 61 percent of respondents supported the change, 25 percent were against and 13 percent were undecided. In Kleefeld, results came in at 53 percent in favour, 29 percent against and 18 percent undecided. Mitchell results were nearly identical with 54 percent in favour, 27 percent against and 19 undecided.

The 2014-15 school year will be the last time that students at the four rural schools only join the SRSS when they are in Grade 10.

The transferring of Grade 9 students to Steinbach will cost the division about $90,000 more in annual transportation costs.