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Number of students drops


Halfway through the school year, islands public schools have 15 fewer students than they did in September, according to an enrollment report examined by the school board when it met Feb. 27.
The losses occurred at south-end schools, with Tahayghen elementary and G.M. Dawson Secondary in Masset both reporting more students - an additional four at Tahayghen and three at GMD.
The biggest loss was posted at Queen Charlotte Secondary, where enrollment is down by more than nine full-time students (some of the student numbers are expressed in fractions if they don't attend full-time). Agnes L. Mathers in Sandspit lost five students, while Port Clements is down by two, Sk'aadgaa Naay by two and a half, and the e-school system by four students.
Secretary-treasurer Ken Campbell told trustees that the mid-year enrollment drop will not affect the budget, which is determined by the number of students on Sept. 30.
However, "it is an indication for us that enrollment is still on the way down, which is not a good sign for us," he said.
He also said that many districts lose students as the school year goes on, so the numbers aren't especially surprising.
The district has been dealing with declining enrollment for the past several years. As of Feb. 16, there were the equivalent of almost 739 full-time students attending public schools here, 711 regular students and 28 adults.