Dale Bass
Kamloops This Week
Tentative numbers show decreased enrolment in the Kamloops-Thompson school district might not be what administration feared.
Superintendent Karl deBruijn said it appears — with schools back just three days — elementary enrolment may be up 200 students from the March registration.
Kindergarten enrolment, which the district had feared would be about 100 fewer than predicted, is also benefitting from 50 new youngsters entering school for the first time.
There have been “lots of new arrivals but also no-shows that require follow-up,” deBruijn said, particularly in the Valleyview, David Thompson and Juniper catchment areas. Families of students the district expected but who do not arrive at school are all contacted to determine the reason for their absence.
Often, this involves families who move away during the summer after having indicated in the previous school year the student will be returning.
“Secondary is still a mystery as every new student has to be programmed and counted,” deBruijn said.
A complete report on enrolment and class sizes won’t be prepared for trustees for several weeks.
