A continuing decline in southwestern Ontario's student population is concerning the Lambton Kent District School Board.
The board's 2018 Capital Plan demographics show a decline of nearly 2,800 students, or 13% of the population, over the last ten years. Current projections have that number declining by another 1,100 students by 2028.
Superintendent Gary Girardi says the school board's population is reflective of the region's declining population due to low birth-rates and infrequent immigration.
He says a continued rapid decline could end up costing the school board in a number of ways.
"If the enrollment declines so does the funding for the school board. That means funding to hire our staff and to support the buildings in which we function in," says Girardi.
With the declining numbers, LKDSB is moving forward with the final phase of two school consolidations in September 2018 in Plympton-Wyoming and Chatham-Kent.
Girardi says they may have to combine more schools in the coming years.
"We have, over the last few years, looked at trying to consolidate schools to increase our efficiencies in terms of our school uses to reflect better the number of students we have," he says. "Those are difficult discussions so we enter those trying to make sure people are aware so that they can participate."
Girardi says the continued growth of the school board's strong international education program, comprised of over 130 students, is a resource that could help improve the population decline.
To read the complete LKDSB Capital Plan click here.