Prairie Valley School Division will undertake a review of 11 of its 46 schools in the new year, to consider whether closure or discontinuance of some grades is warranted.

The schools to be reviewed are Francis, Wilcox, Sedley, Saar (Kronau), Earl Grey, Glenavon, Gray, Kennedy/Langbank, Lang, McLean, and Odessa.

Their student populations range from 11 at Lang, where Kindergarten to Grade 5 (K-5) is offered, to about 107 at Kennedy-Langbank.

Glenavon and Kennedy-Langbank are the only K-12 schools which will be subject to the review process.

However, Francis (K-6) and Sedley (7-12), which split their grades between the two communities as a result of an earlier review by the then Regina East school division, are both up for review this time around as well. Their combined student population is currently 115.

Reports say the motion to conduct the review, which was passed Nov. 16, stemmed from the school division’s viability policy. This considers issues such as the average number of students per grade, the cost of maintaining facilities and the need for qualified teachers for specialized courses.

Some of the schools could face closure or discontinuance of some grades as early as next fall, sources say.

Typically, once a school is put on review, statistics are gathered by the school division which include projected classroom numbers for the next several years.

These are then taken to public meetings in the affected communities, where possible courses of action are discussed. These meetings can be expected early in the new year.

Director of Education Jan Chell says the intention is to provide time for communities to respond to information which will be shared at the public consultation meetings.

There is an appeal period of several weeks following any decision proposed after the public meeting process.

Prairie Valley is developing different types of response formats including survey forms and an online survey.

“We want to give people as much information and as much time as possible to respond,” Chell says.

For more about Prairie Valley School Division, go to www.pvsd.ca