Whitehorse Daily Star

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MANY SCHOOLS NEAR CAPACITY – Education Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee says she’s heard of one family who has chosen to home-school their kids because it wanted to keep their children together.

Two schools have students waiting to get in

There are two elementary schools with waiting lists to accommodate students, says Jason Mackey, a Department of Education spokesman.

By Chuck Tobin on October 15, 2018

There are two elementary schools with waiting lists to accommodate students, says Jason Mackey, a Department of Education spokesman.

Mackey explained Friday the Golden Horn Elementary School, near the Carcross cutoff, has a waiting list of 11 students.

Holy Family Elementary School in Porter Creek has a waiting list of two.

The department is accommodating those students at other schools, he said.

Mackey explained six of the families who have children on the Golden Horn wait list have indicated they want their kids to stay at the school to which they’ve been assigned – even if space opens up at Golden Horn.

Five families have indicated they would want to return if possible, he explained.

The issue of rising student populations putting a squeeze on available space has come up in the legislature a couple of times since the fall session began Oct. 1.

Education Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee has said most schools in Whitehorse and in the Yukon are at or near capacity.

The minister said in an interview following question period last Thursday that she’s heard of one family who has chosen to home-school their kids because it wanted to keep their children together.

Education and the Department of Highways and Public Works are working together to see how they can purchase four or five portable classrooms to help relieve the pressure, she said.

McPhee reminded the house a couple of times about how a tender call that went out last April for the supply of one portable for Golden Horn, but there was no response. There are no portables available in western Canada, she said.

Stacey Hassard, the Yukon Party’s interim leader, has been critical of McPhee for not putting more emphasis on coming up with a local manufacturer.

McPhee has told the legislature her department is also developing a 10-year-capital plan for schools to identify priorities going forward.

Records show the number of students enrolled at Golden Horn for this school year is at 240.

That’s an increase of 13 over last year but a boost of 65 in the last five years.

Enrolment this year at Holy Family is at 177 students, up 11 from last year and up nine from September 2014.

Comments (7)

Up 11 Down 0

Joe on Oct 17, 2018 at 10:23 am

@not all schools- the francophone school is federally funded, and for that matter, we're all funded by the Canadian tax base-with our billion dollar handout each year.

Up 9 Down 2

BnR on Oct 16, 2018 at 6:49 am

Tater, PSG I get it. Web comments are THE place for hyperbole.
In that spirit, I would bet that if the students on the waiting lists were Franco Yukonaise, the situation would be been resolved PDQ.
Seriously though, it's almost like there has been zero planning over the past few years with respect to student number growth.
FHC should have never been re-built in Riverdale, yet it was, and no larger than the old FHC. That was remarkably poor planning.
With respect to local tradesmen building portables, well, local companies could build something like them, but they wouldn't be approved to the portable structure standard, they'd have to be built to the building code, which would get more expensive. So modular ATCO like structures do make sense financially and would be more expedient.

Up 8 Down 3

David Wahl on Oct 16, 2018 at 5:26 am

We have modular classrooms the freight would be a high but you could still have your kids in school. Emod Construction. OHIO

Up 16 Down 2

Not all schools are overcrowded on Oct 15, 2018 at 8:14 pm

FH Collins is also overflowing....but Porter Creek Secondary has several empty classrooms. Wouldn't it be wise to take Porter Creek's catchment area (French Immersion students living in PC, Tahini, Copper Ridge, Hidden Valley) and put them at Porter Creek with some French Immersion teachers? That would alleviate FH's overcrowding...and let's face it....FH is overcrowded because some families are not having their kids attend in their proper catchment area and some parents would be angry if (Heaven forbid!) their kids had to attend PCSS. Ridiculous! Your problems are just starting....and there are solutions before your eyes. Make some logical changes. I agree with PSG too--just build some portables! Or buy some mobile homes (they are for sale, brand new for $119,000). Atco trailers....sheesh. When all the money, planning and resources is going to the new 'French' only school, for French first lang. only, this government is missing the mark big time and losing the rest of us, who make the huge majority. Hope that your French vote is worth it.

Up 11 Down 2

Just Sayin' on Oct 15, 2018 at 4:35 pm

Ummm, what about the students who should be enrolled in Carcross community school, but are enrolled in GHES? Also, Holy Family is for those primarily of a Catholic faith; so what does the rise in enrollment in these school(s) tell us? Parents are looking for more structured school settings for their children to learn in. Also, DE should look into building capacity; if there is a rise in Holy Family, then Vanier will require more spots.

Up 25 Down 2

ProScience Greenie on Oct 15, 2018 at 3:22 pm

OMG - a few local trades people and a couple truckloads of lumber and suitable 'portables' could be put up in no time. Heck, haul in a few Weatherhaven style tents with 'monitor' type heaters. They can be set up in a few hours. But no, government, no matter who's at the helm, has to waste millions for something so simple - it's the Yukon way.

Up 62 Down 0

Tater on Oct 15, 2018 at 3:21 pm

So let me get this straight, we have schools which cannot accommodate students but we can build a 27M school in Riverdale for less than 60 students.

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