Should the early French immersion program stay at John Robson Elementary or be moved to Lord Kelvin Elementary when the new school is built?
That's the question the board of education will ask parents and school staff after trustees voted unanimously in favour this fall of a staff recommendation to consult with stakeholders on which school should house the popular program.
Sandra Pace, the district's director of instruction, told the board at a meeting in September that the French immersion program is well integrated into Robsonl, though Kelvin families were excited to get the new program.
"Kelvin probably won't be happy to lose French. They were quite happy to get it," Pace said.
Currently, French immersion is at Robson, but the plan was to transfer the program when Robson students move to the new school, which is being built on the former St. Mary's Hospital site. Kelvin does not have French immersion at this time.
The plan was to house early French immersion at Kelvin to manage enrolment, but Robson is now being built at a higher capacity.
Pace said the district would consult with stakeholders and return to the board with a recommendation.
"Both schools have good arguments (for having French immersion),"
Robson currently has 471 students and is projected to increase to 519 by June 2015, according to a staff report. The early French immersion program at the school is expected to increase from 110 students to 136.
The new elementary school at St. Mary's could accommodate the French program, but the district would have to move a small number of Grade 6 students to Glenbrook Middle school until the city's new middle school is built on the former Robson site, Pace told the board. [email protected]
