Livingstone Range School Division superintendent Darryl Seguin addressed a public meeting on the future of Granum school. Photo by Rob Vogt.
It was an opportunity for the Livingstone Range School Division to share what the situation is at Granum school, how best to utilize the school, and hear what the public has to say.
A community meeting was held at Granum School on Dec. 12, attracting more than 55 families, staff, municipal officials, and community members.
School board chair Lacey Poytress welcomed everyone, noting the school division was there to see how it can ensure Granum school continues to be utilized and what is the desire of the school community.
The school board was seeking community input on Granum school, noting with 35 full-time equivalent students, the school division can operate the school.
If enrollment dips below 35, Livingstone Range will have to see what the future looks like.
Superintendent Darryl Seguin provided an overview of the situation.
Seguin said this was the first conversation, and the board wanted all the information before making any decision.
Various attempts at sustaining a stable school population have been made including:
- A multi-age approach where multiple grades are combined.
- Fresh Start programming.
- Allowing high school students to continue their education in Granum.
- A firefighting academy.
- Combining Granum school administration with Hutterian Brethren colony schools responsibilities and oversight.
- Welcoming Mennonite students.
- Virtual school responsibilities for Grade 1-6 students.
A cheer squad, art school, and Christian-based program focus have also been explored.
The enrollment in 2022 is 38.5 full-time equivalent students, but the projected enrollment drops to 33.5 students in 2023; 33.5 in 2024; and 28 in 2025.
The current grade configurations are Kindergarten to Grade 3 with 13 students; Grade 4-6 with 10 students; and Grade 7-9 with 16 students.
The school division averages for these configurations are Kindergarten to Grade 3 has 20 students; Grade 4-6 has 20 students; and Grade 7-9 has 24 students.
Staffing is three full-time equivalent teachers; a 0.5 FTE principal; and a 0.5 FTE assistant principal; for a total of four FTE teaching staff.
There is also one FTE administrative assistant; a 0.2 FTE learning commons co-ordinator; a 0.2 FTE family school liaison counsellor; and two FTE educational assistants; for a total of 3.4 FTE support staff.
The Granum school teacher to pupil ratio is 1 to 9.6 while in the school division it is 1 to 18.8.
Feedback was also received from current and former students.
They said the best things about Granum school are small class sizes; connection with staff/great staff; connection with the community; caring environment/know classmates well; nice gym; junior high recess; and more personalized teaching.
They said while receiving their education at Granum school they accepted the lack of programs and options; lack of kids to talk with/less choice in who you hang out with; limited extra-curricular activities; and multi-graded classrooms.
The strengths of the school identified were a safe and caring environment; inclusive practices; parent involvement; and the facility is large and in good condition.
The concerns were limited extracurricular activities; limited programming choices; low academic results; low utilization rates/declining enrollment; high costs per student; and dipping below 35 students will mean significant Alberta Education funding decreases.
In fact, there are financial implications for rural small school funding.
The Rural Small Schools Grant is designed to address challenges associated with operating small schools in rural Alberta.
Rural schools will be provided with a guaranteed block of funding to ensure funding is predictable and sustainable.
Schools with less than 35 FTE students receive $25,000 plus a base grant of $233,238.
Schools with 35 to 55 students will receive $454,500; while schools from 55 to 75 students will receive $626,200.
It was pointed out because Alberta Education uses a rolling average, the school would not lose funding next year.
The capacity of the school is pegged at 207 students.
The meeting was then open to the audience for questions and comments.
One person suggested approaching all new families and also surveying families who have chosen to take their children to other schools on why they did so.
Another person suggested merging the community library into the school; having a German teacher to attract Mennonite students; and observed some students seem afraid of multi-age classes.
Seguin responded multi-aging should not be considered less than, and has benefits.
Granum principal Nick Beer said the Mennonite families have left the area, but the school had a High German program until the pandemic.
Someone suggested generally there are a lot of misconceptions about the school, so the school needs better public relations.
A community member said he looked at Granum school as a community school where students are involved in community activities such as Remembrance Day, and adult learning programs are run after hours in the school.
It was pointed out busing routes have changed, and students who years ago would be transported to Granum are bused elsewhere now. A review of bus routes was suggested.
It was also noted the board will support innovative ideas for programming in the school.
Suggestions included an agricultural program and a special needs program.
Another suggestion was to see what the community has to offer and create connections with the school.
“We don’t want to close a school down in any community,” Seguin said.
Poytress concurred.
“We’re not trying to close a school,” Poytress said. “A school is the heart of a community.”
Poytress noted when a school closes, a community falls apart.
“We really want more nights like this that are engaging,” Poytress said. “We really appreciate any thoughts you can share.”
The school division is welcoming feedback by Jan. 15.
It has also created an e-mail for people to send comments and questions to at engage@lrsd.ab.ca.
