The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon students will continue to enjoy a high quality education despite the loss of some $900,000 in funding from the Creighton School Division, the Superintendent of Schools said yesterday. But Blaine Veitch acknowledged that the Creighton School Board's decision to go ahead with a high school in Creighton will impact Flin Flon students. "One of the largest effects would be the social impact within the schools," he said. "I don't believe that one or two hours a week of hockey or other activities can replace the social experiences students have by being in the same class or in the same school. I think that takes away from the experience of all of our children." Other impacts will be perhaps more tangible for Flin Flon high school students. Should the school division continue with its current staff-student ratio, Veitch expects between six and nine high school staff positions will have to be cut. "We'll have to look at what impact those staff reductions will have," he said, "and make decisions based on what we can offer in terms of quality education while being conscious of the corresponding costs to the local taxpayers." With fewer students to enroll in courses at Hapnot Collegiate, Veitch said courses with small enrollments may have to be canceled. Courses with few students have been dropped in the past due to a lack of student interest. The reduced enrollment could also mean that core courses will be offered less frequently, according to Veitch. For instance, a grade 10 English course now offered five times a year might only be offered four times. "It will make it more difficult for students to juggle their core courses with their option courses," said Veitch. Creighton Community School will phase in grades 10, 11 and 12, one year at a time, starting in September 2004. Once the full high school program is in place, Veitch expects enrollment at Hapnot Collegiate will stand at about 350 students. He projects Many Faces Education Centre will have between 80 and 100 high-school aged students. That projection does not take into account the significant adult student population at Many Faces. About 90 Creighton and Denare Beach students currently attend Hapnot, with about 40 at Many Faces. See 'Disappointed' P.# Con't from P.# Veitch was admittedly disappointed about the Creighton board's vote but is now looking ahead at decisions that may have to be made. "Our parents will have the opportunity to work with the school staff and the board on determining our own course of action," he said. "When our board looks at student reductions, we are very hesitant to reduce programs that provide educational opportunities for children." The Creighton School Division currently pays the Flin Flon division about $7,000 for every Creighton and Denare Beach student attending high school on the Manitoba side.
