New catchment areas for Hanover School Division due to overpopulation of SRSS

The Hanover School Division is moving next year’s Grade 9 students in Kleefeld, New Bothwell, and Blumenort to neighbouring high schools due to overpopulation at Steinbach Regional Secondary School.

“This is something that’s been in discussion,” said board chair Dallas Wiebe. “And talking with principals, talking with students, talking with communities, and with our admin, and just looking at the numbers, and it’s full.”

SRSS is currently at or near capacity, with enrolment projected to exceed 2,300 students by fall 2026. Rising student numbers have led to limited course availability and concerns about overcrowding, building congestion, and traffic around the campus, according to the division.

Beginning in the new school year and in subsequent years, Grade 9 students from the Kleefeld catchment area will attend Green Valley School, while students from New Bothwell will attend Niverville High School. Students from Blumenort will go to Landmark Collegiate, subject to enrollment capacity and overall interest, as a minimum number of 10 students is needed to support program delivery and bus scheduling.

The changes only affect the students entering Grade 9. All current Grade 9 students can stay at their existing high schools until graduation.

Entering Grade 10 students will continue to have the option to apply for enrollment in the vocational program at SRSS, regardless of their designated high school catchment area. Availability may be limited based on space and the allocation of spots for rural high schools.

Green Valley School recently began its expansion and renovations which will see a bigger gym and the addition of three classrooms. In February, the board decided to make GVS a Grade 7 to 12 school and moved its Grade 5 and 6 classes to South Oaks School. This was done to lower the number of students at GVS, which was overpopulated.

Wiebe was asked if funneling the Grade 9 students from Kleefeld into GVS will create over crowding again, he said the division will put up portables to take the overflow. There are currently 436 students at GVS.

“We have to bring some huts there pretty much right away. I think long term, it’s going to be really good for GVS,” he said.

Two portables will be set up at the school and while the division is not sure of the cost, previous portables at GVS cost $300,000 each.

Wiebe said the board is in discussions about building another high school, but it’s still unknown as to when it will take shape or where it will be.