It’s that time of year again when most parents are happy and most children aren’t – it’s time to go back to school.
Mission students return to the classroom (for a half day) on Tuesday, Sept. 4. On that day, more than 6,000 students are expected to begin the new school year.
Last year, enrollment in Mission schools totaled approximately 6,200 students. Angus Wilson, superintendent of Mission Public Schools, expects that number to be about the same this year.
“Our enrollment is, more or less, steady. We will know one way or the other in the coming weeks,” he said.
One of the biggest things that will impact the school district this year is the Oct. 20 municipal election, when Mission voters choose a new school board.
Candidates must register by Sept. 14, and Wilson said a meet-the-candidates event has been scheduled for Sept. 20.
The Mission DPAC is organizing the event, which takes place at Heritage Park middle school (Clarke Theatre) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
There are other new projects as well.
“This year we are working on the Stave Falls (Elementary) building and it will open next September, but work is being done as we speak on that building,” Wilson said.
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The district has also been refreshing its IT and has more and more new computers throughout the schools.
Other changes include:
– Mission Secondary has three more portables this year.
– There are solar panels running on top of Dewdney Elementary.
–The district is still hiring more staff, including new teachers.
“We’ll definitely be looking for teachers still. Across the province, the shortage problem continues from last year. I think, in many places, it has alleviated a bit. Another year from now it should be a bit better again,” Wilson said.
While teachers don’t officially return to the classroom until Sept. 4, Wilson said many teachers are already in the schools preparing their classes.
As the new year approaches, Wilson wants to remind the public to slow down and be cautious as the school zone speed limits will be enforced.
As for future projects, Wilson said one thing the board and staff need to work on is addressing future expansion of the school district.
“Mission Secondary, Hatzic Elementary and so on, we will have growth challenges in the coming years, but there’s nothing right this minute that’s an urgent, imminent issue.”
