The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board has hired 17 new teachers because the drop in enrollment wasn't as steep as expected.
A report to trustees this week shows 13,055 students are enrolled at schools in the Catholic system in Windsor-Essex. The enrollment for Junior Kindergarten considered an important indicator of future student numbers, is 2,495.
Board Chair Barb Holland believes it's a good sign.
"It's an exciting thing when you can actually see the numbers of JKs coming in at such a great number," says Holland. "It bodes well for the future because they'll be with us for their entire school career, we hope."
However, Holland cautioned parents not to confuse the figures with rising enrollment. It is still down from previous years.
"So when we say our numbers are greater than expected, it means we didn't lose as many as we thought we would," she says.
A less steep drop in student numbers could also mean greater stability. Holland doesn't anticipate any more school closures for the foreseeable future.
"I don't know that we're going to have to do any for a long time," says Holland.
-With files from Ricardo Veneza
