During the Regina Public School Board's first round of consultations with parents, a clear direction emerged. In all locations, parents repeatedly raised the issue of overcrowded classrooms. In his report, consultant H.J. Linnen noted that school size was barely on the radar in the meetings, while class size was a major issue (Renewing Regina Public Schools: Report on Phase 1 Consultations, Jan. 17, 2007). Parents didn't ask for bigger schools or new schools – they asked for smaller classes. Nonetheless, the School Board returned with a plan focused almost entirely on school closures and consolidations, with little apparent commitment to reducing classroom sizes.
Indeed, since the Board first set out on its path to “renew” Regina's schools in 2005, very limited progress has been made on this important concern.