EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
H AHKING & CO was engaged in January 2024 by School District No. 57 (Prince George) to update their 2014 Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP). The LRFP provides the School District and the Ministry the framework for decisions to ensure cost-effective operations and investments in capital projects from a review and analysis of the following:
- Educational programs and facility assets
- Community demographics
- Enrolment projections of to 2033/34
- Capacity Utilization
From the review and analysis, options are proposed and recommendations made for the efficient management of SD57 facilities.
The School District
SD57 offers a variety of choice programs in addition to the regular BC curriculum. These include:
- Indigenous Program
- French Immersion
- Francophone
- Arts
- Montessori program
- Early Learning: Strong Start, pre-school, daycares, and before/after school care
- Career Technical Centre for G11 and 12
- Dual Credit for G12
- Alternate Community Programs
SD57 has an inventory of assets comprising:
- 32 elementary schools
- 8 secondary schools
- District Learning Supports
- 4 other administrative support facilities: the Administration & Maintenance Building, Central Store Warehouse, and Maintenance Building at Valemount
- Other standalone facilities for Early Learning
- 14 surplus properties
- 16 portables
The Facility Condition Index (FCI) determined under the Capital Asset Management System (CAMS) building assessment program of the Ministry of Education categorized the facilities in a five-tiered condition scale from Excellent to Deficient. Ratings of facilities were from the FCI report prepared in November 2020. New assessments are expected in 2025 and should reflect improved condition of some of the facilities where over $5.8 Million in minor capital funding was provided by the Ministry. From the current FCI report, the number of SD57 facilities that fall under each of the categories are:
- 2 – Excellent
- 1 – Good
- 7 – Fair
- 27 – Poor
- 10 – Deficient
Community Demographics
The boundaries of the School District are generally coincident with the geographical area of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George which consists of the City of Prince George, the District of Mackenzie, the Village of McBride, the Village of Valemount, and seven electoral areas.
The total population decreased from about 99,000 in 2001 to almost 94,000 in 2011, and grew to 103,800 by 2021. It is expected to reach 115,360 by 2033, with the 65+ age group registering the largest increase.
Although the total population will be increasing in the next 10 years, the 5-17 school age population will be decreasing, reflecting the low birthrate and the lower than average net migration to Prince George.
Enrolment Projections
The enrolment projections, from 2024 to 2033 for SD57, indicate a total decrease of approximately 1,200 students, 1,033 at the elementary level and 167 at the secondary level.
The percentage decrease by Family for the next 10 years is expected as follows:
- College Heights: -5.2%
- Duchess Park: -6.0%
- D.P. Todd: -16.6%
- Shas Ti Kelly Rd: -4.5%
- Prince George: -10.8%
- Mackenzie: -24.7%
- McBride: -8.4%
- Valemount: -5.3%
If the status quo is maintained, the capacity utilization is expected to decrease from 89% in 2023 to 81% by 2033 at the District level, 86% to 74% at the elementary level and from 94% to 91% at the secondary level.