Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 16/98) - Yellowknife city council said it's about time that services were provided to integrate high school drop outs back into the education system, but it is not prepared to put up any cash to help that happen.

City council is not granting the $40,000 request made by project organizers of the Integrated Youth Services Program yet to be implemented in Yellowknife. Funding commitments have been made by the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Social Services which would be funding half of the project.

The program is an initiative by the Department of Social Services, Yellowknife Education District #1 and the Yellowknife Catholic Schools, which are committed to funding approximately 32 per cent of the program. Startup costs for the first semester of the project proposed to run from Feb, 1998 to June 1998, is estimated at $177,000 with the entire two year pilot program costing approximately $1 million.

The partnership would offer combined expertise to formulate individual school programs for youth 16 to 18 years of age that have dropped out of school or are having difficulty in the school system.

The partnership and the program was readily praised by councillors during a council meeting Dec. 14, but the recommendation from the Financial, Legislative and Administrative Committee to deny the request for funding was upheld.

"Everyone on the committee and council expressed a gratitude to social services and the school divisions for bringing a much needed program to the city," said Bob Brooks, assistant deputy mayor and chair of the committee assigned to look at a funding request.

Council did, however pass the recommendation to offer the program use of the city's services which may be of use, but won't upset the city budget.

"That could come in the form of space such as use of city facilities for classrooms," said Brooks.

"For the program's work experience there could be use of city operations for that. They might need some of our equipment."

To receive services, the program organizers would be required to make a proposal of the types of services that would be needed, which would then be negotiated with the city.