Enrolment within the Algoma District School Board system is higher than originally anticipated for the 2024-25 school year.
Frank Palumbo, superintendent of education told the board at its first regular meeting of the new school year Tuesday evening that numbers show an overall increase of “at least 212 more students,” more than the 12 new students at the elementary level and 56 new students at the secondary level originally projected in a report to the board in March.
The board in March expected a total of 10,347 students for this fall, including 6,755 elementary and 3,592 secondary students.
“The number (of students) is continually changing as we still are enrolling. That number is continually changing on a daily basis. It’s 212 more at this point in time than our March report,” Palumbo told reporters Tuesday.
“(The new enrolment) is spread out from Hornepayne out to our eastern schools, our areas in the north and in the Sault. Our population in the Sault is growing. We’re continually getting students from down south and other boards but we are also pleased to know that our local population of newcomers is also increasing. We’ve had that growth for the last several years so it’s a great news story and we’re looking forward to that continuing,” Palumbo said.
The board hired about 10.6 full-time equivalent elementary teachers in response to the higher than expected enrolment numbers.
The overall number of ADSB students for 2024-25, as well as how many of the 212 new students are in elementary and how many of them are in secondary, were not immediately available Tuesday. In addition, numbers of new high school teachers were not immediately available.
However, the ADSB in a release Wednesday stated "As noted, we have an increase of at least 212 students. Due to a processing delay and on-going registrations, we did not delineate further (ie. Multi Language Learners, secondary, international) until we are able to process all registrations. Further updates will be provided to trustees in the coming weeks. We are also continuing to fill contract positions at both elementary and secondary. With respect to specific programs, we are seeing an increase in students opting for the Trades, our Hockey Canada Skills Academy and our Specialist High Skills Major programs."
The full text of the original Algoma District School Board release Tuesday regarding 2024-25 enrolment follows.
Algoma District School Board (ADSB) senior staff shared a very positive update and overview of opening enrolment numbers at Algoma District School Board’s first Regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
Superintendent Frank Palumbo was pleased to share that ADSB has seen a steady increase in enrolment consecutively over the past several years in all regions of the board and that this year, the Board experienced an overall increase of at least 212 students from the projected numbers that were shared in the March 2024 Director’s Report.
It was also noted that schools continue to register students, particularly at secondary, adult and alternative programs, thus it is anticipated that numbers will continue to increase slightly before the end of the month.
Board Chair Jennifer Sarlo shared, “Once again, this is exciting news for our schools and for our communities. We are always thankful that families have confidence in our schools and our staff. We feel confident that ADSB really does have a program for every student and this appears to be reflected by the specific programs students are choosing. ADSB is proud to serve all students and welcomes new students and families into its learning community of ‘Confident learners, Caring citizens.’”