CBE looks to create more regular student spaces at Sir James Lougheed School by closing the program
Public school officials will begin the process to consider closure of the unique All Boys’ Program at Sir James Lougheed School, collecting input through public engagement over the next several months.
But with the system facing historic enrolment growth over the past three years, the Calgary Board of Education could open the inner-city school in Rutland Park to hundreds of new students by next fall.
In a report to trustees Tuesday, CBE said enrolment in the program peaked at 177 students in 2016, but has been declining ever since.
For the 2023-24 school year, 51 students were enrolled, with that number falling to 48 as of May, then falling again to only 30 students at the start of this school year.
Officials blamed several factors — families moving away, enrolling in private schools or choosing to attend other CBE schools, particularly with the abrupt end to before-and-after-school care at Sir James Lougheed last year.
Dany Breton, CBE superintendent of facilities, stressed that if the CBE does decide to close the program, the school would be open to regular programming by the 2025-26 school year.
“Something that is very important given the record high enrolment levels the CBE has experienced in the last three years, the building that this program is currently occupying — Sir James Lougheed School — is anticipated to be retained for elementary school programming.”
CBE officials have been concerned with record growth over the past few years — and projected in the coming two years — as thousands of refugees arrive in Canada and more Canadians from other provinces continue to choose Calgary as their home.
After welcoming more than 7,000 new kids in the 2023-24 school year, bringing total enrolment to a record 138,244, CBE is projecting a total of 146,294 students in 2024-25 — an additional 8,050 children. Final enrolment tallies are expected at the end of this month.
And in 2025-26, the CBE is projecting 153,193 total students — an additional 6,899 kids — reaching another all-time high.
Overall, in the next two years the CBE is expecting to add another 14,800 students, higher than the 13,000 received in the previous two record-setting years.
Still, some trustees are concerned as to how well individual students from the All Boys’ Program will be supported if they have to be moved back into regular programming.
“I have heard from many parents and guardians who have doubts and reservations that they’ll receive the supports they need in a regular school environment,” said trustee Susan Vukadinovic.
The All Boys’ Program was originally designed as a single-gender program, to provide active engagement for boys, and to increase self-confidence and develop caring relationships through coaching and mentorship.
But CBE found the program was no longer doing that, and had instead evolved into a program focused on supporting boys with special behavioural and educational needs.
In recent years, the All Boys’ Program averaged up to 61 per cent of students with special education coding as compared to the CBE average of 19.4 per cent.
As a result, the CBE is vowing to carefully transition individual students into the regular system, ensuring they receive those same supports.
“Students with similar special education codes are supported in schools across our system,” the report said.
“Teachers in CBE schools provide hands-on learning activities through a social-emotional lens, and support students in identifying strategies for regulation and emotional well-being.”
Trustees agreed that while collecting public input to consider closing the program was a significant step, CBE provided enough evidence to move ahead.
“It is such a big decision to begin public input,” said trustee Nancy Close.
“But the evidence is there that we need to begin the process.”
Trustee Charlene May added: “I know personally any public input process we engage in is an important opportunity to truly listen and hear.”