An early Christmas gift for the Bruce Grey Catholic School Board.
Higher than anticipated enrolment numbers this school year means an extra 1.3 million dollars from the province for the Bruce Grey Catholic Board.
Student enrolment numbers are 1.4 per cent higher than what was budgeted for.
This works out to be an extra 49 students — 34 at the elementary level and 15 in high school — for a total of 35 hundred students.
Superintendent of Business Cathy Colton says the funding will provide the board with more flexibility.
However along with the additional grant dollars comes additional expenses as the Board makes some minor staff adjustments to accommodate the extra students.
Colton believes they have more students than anticipated because parents registered their little ones late for kindergarten.
Even with extra 49 students, enrolment is still 1 per cent lower than last year.
Colton adds the 1 per cent decline seems to be the average trend for the Board.
The Catholic Board plans to spread the extra 1.3 million dollars out on various capital projects and education programs.
