There will be one less technical vocational option for students in the Garden Valley School Division (GVSD) and Red River Technical Vocational Area to choose from next school year. At its May 9th meeting, the GVSD board decided to close Garden Valley Collegiate's Horticulture and Landscaping program which is run out of GVC Tec.
    
Superintendent Vern Reimer said the decision was based on continued low enrolment.  "Over the last number of years, the enrolment is just not where we need it to be.  For next year's registration we had seven students registered at level one, and four students in level two."

GVSD's other Tec Voc courses, also offered through the RRVTA, have healthy enrolment numbers.  Reimer said for comparison, automotive has an enrolment of 58, culinary arts has 32 students, and diesel mechanics has 72 students. "Those programs, (others as well) are running at capacity and have waiting lists, which is good.  Unfortunately for horticulture and landscaping, we were not in that same position."

Reimer said it's important for schools and the board to always be in tune with what students are asking for. He said when it comes to high school electives, students essentially vote with their feet, and if they're not registering, and there's a tipping point where there are not enough students, these tough decisions need to be made.

Reimer said when it comes to electives, it's up to the principal at each school as to how resources are directed.

Winkler's two high schools, Garden Valley Collegiate and Northlands Parkway Collegiate, will still have access to the greenhouse at GVC Tec, which they can use to deliver other curricular outcomes.