Regina parents frustrated over assigned public high schools

REGINA – Some families are less than impressed with the Regina Public School Board’s new high school strategy.

Beginning September, new students entering high school will be assigned to a school based on the neighborhood they live.

The idea is to give all students equal educational opportunities but some parents are worried that the move does just the opposite.

Samantha Wilson’s son will be entering high school next year and she said she’s frustrated to learn she no longer has a choice where he studies, or will graduate.

“People might only have the option to live over here and hope to send their kids to a better school,” she explained, “but they don’t have that now, and they (students) are going right to an area where there’s drugs or crime or prostitution.”

The new strategy is to accommodate an expected 30 per cent increase in student population by 2023, from a current 5,805 students to over 8,000.

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Darren Boldt with Regina Public Schools said some schools in the city are already at capacity while others are well below.

He adds that by balancing enrollment, ultimately all programs will be offered at all schools to all students.

“People don’t understand that with students come teachers,” he told the media Tuesday.  “With teachers come course offerings and programs, so the more students you have attending the school the more courses you can offer.”

There are some exemptions to the strategy including students with special needs requirements or in the French immersion programs.

Boldt said if a program isn’t ready to go by the 2015-2016 school year, like football, the student can co-op with another school.

However, Wilson remains skeptical about the outcome of the changes.

“What should be and what will happen are two different things, and they can’t guarantee that.”

Meantime, Regina Catholic Schools said school boundaries are under review and there are no changes to the current year but they haven’t ruled out assigned high schools in the future.

You can find details on Regina Public School high school open houses here.