Iqaluit school board looks for options in face of potential overcrowding

Some Iqaluit schools are nearly filled to capacity and the Iqaluit District Education Authority is looking for a solution.

One idea is to move away from the current model where students attend a school based on where they live;the so-called catchment system.

The IDEA saysovercrowding is an issue citywide, especially at Joamie IlinniarvikSchool. With theJoamie Court subdivision set to move forward, the board expects an increase in the number of students in the Joamie school catchment area.

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"Because of the reality that a new school isn't in the current planning process for Iqaluit, I think that it's time we look at various models," said Andrea Witzaney-Chown, vice chair of the Iqaluit DEA.

"Perhaps look outside the catchment model, look at all children in a certain grade going to the same school."

Divide students by grade rather than neighbourhood

Under this plan there would be Kindergarten to Grade 2 in one school, Grades 3 to 6 in another, with Grades 7 to 9 in a Junior High and 10 to 12 in a Senior High School.

"We're trying to find a better way to use our space," said board chair Doug Workman.

The board launched the idea during the annual IDEA community consultation earlierthis week. Board members said they are looking for public feedback on the idea, or for any new ideas on how to deal with growing school populations.

"We're a long ways from making a decision, we are going to have hopefully at least one or two more community consultations," Workman said.