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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Student enrolment across Yellowknife is expected to decline in September, resulting in projected budget cuts at all three school boards.

"When you have less students, you have less money coming in, that's for sure," said Gwen Smith, superintendent of Yellowknife Catholic Schools.

Catholic school enrolment is expected to drop by about 40 students, down from 1,415 this year.

The board will release its 2009-2010 budget on April 29.

Yk1 school board officials said last week they expect to hold onto a $1.5 million budget surplus despite declining enrolment by about 87 students - and losing $1 million in territorial funding.

Similar declines have taken place at the French school board.

"We're expecting a decrease in Yellowknife," said Philippe Brulot, board superintendent of the Commission scolaire francophone de division, Territoires du Nord-Ouest. A student population of about 100 will decrease to about 90, he said.

"But we're on standby," he said. "We hope to regain some of the students we lost."

Many francophone students have parents who work in the military or RCMP. The decline in French student numbers is primarily due to families making the decision to return to Quebec, he said, but job openings and transfers could change that. The superintendent said the decline will lead to budget cuts.

Smith couldn't say if budget constraints will lead to teacher and staff layoffs at Catholic schools.

"We're not done the school year yet," she said.

Some teachers will be returning from leaves and others may submit resignations, she said.

Enrolment is declining across the territory, according to assistant superintendent Mike Huvenaars. Family sizes are smaller, birth rates are down and fewer families with younger children are moving to Yellowknife, he said.

"We have to deal with the trends and work accordingly," Smith said. "We're not alarmed by it."