The numbers are in.

Enrolment is up by nearly 700 students this year in School District 43.

As of Sept. 30, enrolment reached 30,208 students, compared to 29,511 last year. The majority of this increase is due to the inaugural full-day kindergarten classes. However, about 200 new non-kindergarten students also enrolled in the district.

"This is good news. We have more kids this year than last year, which means we also have more teachers than we had last year," district principal Kathleen Ponsart said at Tuesday's school board meeting.

Due to the increase in students, teaching staff levels increased to 1,816 from 1,789.

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Anmore and Belcarra kids could soon enjoy an improved play structure, thanks to a second round of school community connection grants.

This grant program was launched in 2005 through a $10-million Ministry of Education fund. The program, managed jointly by the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the B.C. School Trustees Association, promotes collaboration between school boards and local government. This year, the grant program is geared toward supporting neighbourhood learning centres and expanding the use of schools for community services.

The grant provides up to $25,000 per school district, with the possibility of another $5,000 if funds are available.

Earlier this year in a first round of grants, the school board partnered with the City of Coquitlam to install a curtain wall at Summit Middle School to increase the gym's use for students as well as for municipal parks and recreation programs.

A second round of 2010 grants was announced earlier this month. The school board voted unanimously Tuesday to partner with the villages of Anmore and Belcarra to improve Anmore Elementary's play structure through minor renovations.

"It's their turn," trustee John Keryluk said. "We've done PoCo, Coquitlam, Port Moody. It's Anmore's turn."

District 43's community connection grant applications are done on a rotating basis to ensure equity among all five local municipalities.

Board chair Melissa Hyndes said she's glad to see the grant return for another round of funding.

"I actually have some other information that it might even come around again. There might even be some more money coming, which would be awesome for our community," Hyndes said.

"I'm glad that we're able to help Anmore with their playground. Their playground had burnt down, so it's a worthwhile project to endorse."