Dear Editor:
Census data from 1996 to 2011 shows that the number of children (ages 0 to 19) in School District 44 (City and District of North Vancouver) has only decreased by 135 kids, or less than 0.5 per cent. District 44 data indicates that during this same period the public school population has decreased by more than 40 per cent.
The superintendent and trustees of District 44 say they are closing schools and contemplating selling excess school lands because of declining enrolment. But they are being disingenuous when implying that the enrolment is declining because there are fewer students living in the school district.
Declining enrolment is not due to a lack of students, but rather to the inability of District 44 to attract and retain pupils.
Rick Burns North Vancouver
