Late French immersion will be introduced at Spring Creek elementary school starting this fall.
The Howe Sound School Board has decided to go ahead with the Grade 5 and 6 immersion after 22 parents signed up their kids last week.
Normally an intermediate class has up to 30 students , but said school superintendent Dr. Rick Erickson, a smaller immersion class could go ahead because of the way both schools are organized now.
"We can re-organize the two schools without additional staff and offer the French immersion, so we decided to go ahead," said Erickson.
However, the board is hoping more kids will sign up for the immersion as the year goes on.
It is being organized on a first come, first served basis so those parents who have already signed up will get spots in the class.
Erickson is concerned about the viability of the class if any of the parents decide to withdraw their kids but he said the board is committed to the program and "will look at every scenario."
At this point there is no plan to re-look at immersion at the Kindergarten or Grade 1 level, said Erickson.
In a recent survey Whistler parents indicated early immersion was the preferred program. But the school board voted to introduce late immersion because an early program would disrupt the two local elementary schools too much.
