Revenues from the International Student Education program at Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District are projected to be $3.9 million in 2015-16, up from 2.7 million in 2011-12.

That’s one of the pieces of information SD68 staff and trustees have to consider in a review of ISE, produced by Mike McKay of Hadrian Educational Consulting.

His report offers ‘observations and recommendations’ on:

• Alignment of the ISE program with the district’s core purpose and strategic direction;

• Financial and related operational realities;

• Confirmation of ISE’s benefits beyond revenue generation;

• And the Impact of ISE on district operations;

Since 2011 the number of ISE students has climbed from 216 to 313, a 45 per cent jump. Included within that number is a sharper rise in the number of elementary ISE enrolments, which have jumped from five to 45.

The families of secondary ISE students pay $12,000 per year for their children to attend; elementary parents $13,000.

A revenue and expenses model, based on 225 secondary and 20 elementary students, pegs total revenues at $3.3 million, expenditures at $2.6 million. What is called ‘net unallocated revenue’ is $567,000 in that scenario.

Added district staffing accounts for $1.3 million of the district’s expenditures in that model. Other costs are ISE department staffing and ISE supplies and services.

In 2015-16 Ladysmith Secondary School was attended by 8 per cent of secondary ISE students; 25 per cent attended Dover Bay Secondary; 24 per cent Wellington; 14 per cent Nanaimo District Secondary School; 15 per cent John Barsby and 14 per cent Woodlands.