The Medicine Hat Public School Division has made a significant decision that will reshape the local educational landscape. The board voted this week to close two elementary schools at the conclusion of the current academic year, citing persistently low student numbers and financial pressures.
The Decision and the Schools Affected
In a move finalized during a Tuesday meeting, trustees agreed to shutter Webster Niblock School and Southview Community School. Both institutions will cease operations after the 2025-2026 school year ends in late June. This decision follows a lengthy period of declining enrolment that has made sustaining the schools increasingly challenging.
The current enrolment figures paint a clear picture of the issue. This school year, Webster Niblock has 174 students, while Southview has 137 students. A decade ago, these numbers were substantially higher, with Webster Niblock at 315 students and Southview at 229. This represents a dramatic decline of 44 percent and 40 percent, respectively.
Financial and Operational Rationale
The school division projects that closing the two schools will result in substantial savings. Officials estimate $500,000 in annual operating costs will be saved, with plans to reinvest those funds directly into classroom resources across the division. Furthermore, the move avoids an estimated $7.9 million in deferred maintenance costs that would have been required to keep the aging buildings operational.
Board Chair Catherine Wilson acknowledged the difficulty of the decision in a public statement. "We appreciate and support staff and families and know that learning the news of closure will be hard for many to receive," Wilson said. "While we have a responsibility to make decisions that serve the broader division, we recognize that these school closures can present real challenges for families and staff, and we do not take that lightly."
Broader Trends and Future Planning
The challenges in Medicine Hat extend beyond these two schools. The presentation to the board revealed that Webster Niblock and Southview are two of four schools in the division with enrolments under 200. Across the entire public system, 10 schools now have fewer than 300 students—double the number from a decade ago.
Despite receiving supplementary staffing in recent years to manage class sizes and complexity, maintaining adequate staffing levels has remained a persistent struggle. The division's analysis indicates that with multiple small schools, it is becoming increasingly difficult to support all institutions effectively with available funding.
Looking ahead, the division forecasts a continued decline in student population, predicting a loss of 430 students over the next decade, bringing total enrolment down to approximately 9,770 by 2035.
Superintendent Tracy Hensel emphasized that transition planning is now a top priority. "While changes can present challenges, the division is committed to walking alongside families and staff to make the transition supportive and transparent," Hensel stated. The division has pledged to communicate its plans publicly throughout the remainder of the school year as it works to relocate students and staff.
