Squamish Catchment Boundary Changes

At the June 30, 2021, Public Board Meeting, the Board approved changes to catchment boundaries, resulting in Northyards and Loggers Lane at Finch Drive falling within the Mamquam Elementary catchment boundaries and Tantalus Road (north of the Executive Suites Hotel), and the Skyridge development falling within Brackendale Elementary catchment boundary, effective September 2023. These changes apply to future students who are of Kindergarten age starting September 2023 or later. Siblings of these students currently attending school will not be affected. SD48 consulted with staff and PAC from the impacted schools and with the community through a virtual town hall earlier in the 2020/2021 school year. 

 

Watch the video recording of the Public Board Meeting HERE.

 

School Districts complete annual school capacity reviews to monitor declining or growing enrollment projections and the potential impacts on school space. School District Capital and Financial Planning are adjusted to reflect this information. SD48 data indicates a trend of growth in some of the Squamish communities. Before requesting Capital funds from the Ministry of Education to address enrollment growth through building projects, the district is expected to maximize existing school space utilization in several ways. District level grade reconfigurations, programs of choice relocation, small-scale school renovations or the use of portables, and new school boundaries are among the expected considerations.

 

As a result of the School Capacity Review, École Squamish Elementary is forecasted to be over capacity by September 2022. Additionally, Mamquam Elementary may be impacted by the student movement and, therefore, may be at overcapacity soon.

 

In order to address this growth, the Board of Education reviewed some minor changes to the current École Squamish Squamish and Mamquam elementary school catchment boundaries in time for September 2023. The changes are expected to affect Northyards, Loggers Lane at Finch Drive, Tantalus Road (north of the Executive Suites Hotel), and the Skyridge development. All of the above potential catchment area changes will not exceed the District approved primary walk limits of 3.2KMs.

 

Currently, Northyards and Loggers Lane at Finch Drive are within the École Squamish Elementary catchment boundaries and Tantalus Road (north of the Executive Suites Hotel and the Skyridge development is part of Mamquam Elementary catchment boundaries (see below map for current catchment boundaries for École Squamish Elementary and Mamquam Elementary Schools).

 

The School District looked into changing the boundaries, resulting in Northyards and Loggers Lane at Finch Drive falling within the Mamquam Elementary catchment boundaries and Tantalus Road (north of the Executive Suites Hotel, and the Skyridge development falling within Brackendale Elementary catchment boundary (see below map for future catchment boundaries for École Squamish Elementary, Mamquam Elementary, and Brackendale Elementary Schools).

 

All students currently attending school from these neighbourhoods and siblings who may be starting Kindergarten in September 2023 or later will not be impacted by these changes as they will be permitted to attend their current school. The catchment boundary changes only apply to future students without siblings already enrolled, who are of Kindergarten age starting September 2023 or later.

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions or feedback related to the boundary changes, please email the office of the SD48 Secretary-Treasurer at [email protected].