'Cost per student' at underutilized schools a factor in school review

A new report from P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch shows how much each of the province's schools cost per student, with some underutilized schools costing up to double the average.

Georgetown Elementary School has highest cost at $17,722.26 per student

Patrick Faller · CBC News · Posted: Nov 03, 2016 5:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: November 3, 2016

According to government statistics, Georgetown Elementary is operating at just 28 per cent capacity. (Randy McAndrew/CBC)

A new report from P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch shows how much each of the province's schools cost per student, with some under-utilized schools costing up to double the average.

The report was prepared for the school review, assessing which schools should be rezoned, reconfigured, or possibly closed.

"If you reference the school review policy … one of the components is financial factors," said John Cummings, director of corporate services for the P.E.I. Public Schools Branch. His department looked at factors like maintenance, utility costs, and staff salaries.

Georgetown Elementary, Morell High the costliest

Georgetown Elementary School has the highest cost at an average $17,722.26 per student. The average cost across the Island over the past two years is $8,003.44.

Parents respond to a suggestion they stand in support of send students to St. Peters rather than Morell Regional High. (CBC)

"There are some costs that are basically fixed in some manner, [for example] heating the building. Those type of costs don't have a lot of variability based on how many students you have in the building," said Cummings.

Georgetown Elementary has low enrolment, running at just 28 per cent capacity. Other schools, such as Morell Regional High School, are in similar situations.

Educational priorities first

Schools in other parts of P.E.I. are costing the province less per student than the average.

Stratford Elementary School, for example, has the lowest cost at $6,462.82 per student. It's also one of the most overcrowded schools in the province at nearly 10 per cent over-capacity.

Cummings said this financial information is just one factor in the school review process, and providing Island students with the best learning experience is the top priority.

"The educational factors are the key consideration in this process. I think the financial factors are just supplemental information, so that people have an idea of what the costs are at particular facilities," he said.