Edmonton Public Schools has released its plan for students at two south west schools – both of which are dealing with overflowing classrooms.
On Monday, the district said major changes were in store for some students at Esther Starkman School, and Johnny Bright School.
Starting in the 2013-2014 school year, students who live outside the designated attendance areas at both schools, will not be able to stay at those schools.
In addition, Grade 8 and 9 students at both schools will be moved to other schools: current Johnny Bright students will be moved to D.S. MacKenzie School, while most of the Esther Starkman students in those grades will move to Avalon School.
Esther Starkman students who live in Hodgson, Magrath Heights and MacTaggart neighbourhoods will be moved to Riverbend School.
The decision comes as the two south side K-9 schools face extreme overcrowding.
The school district said officials have implemented a number of steps to address attendance growth at a number of schools including closing attendance boundaries, and bringing in modular and portable classrooms.
In late February, officials at Esther Starkman School talked to CTV News about the situation.
Administrators had been given some relief with the addition of portable classrooms, but the school’s population continued to grow, forcing the school to re-purpose rooms such as the staff room and library as classrooms.
