Yellowknife (Jan 21/05) - Public school board trustees found themselves under fire by angry parents, teachers and community members after inviting them to a hastily-planned meeting this week.

On the table at the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 meeting Jan. 18 was a French Revitalization Project that could make J.H. Sissons school a single-track French immersion school.

Members of the public who applied in writing beforehand were given 10 minutes to speak to the board.

"The timelines are crippling and the impact on students is high," said J.H. Sissons teacher Carrie Cumming. A visibly upset Cumming tripped over her words as she talked about the damage a single-track French immersion school could do to J.H. Sissons.

"We are concerned and we are shocked by the secrecy of this project. What is the hidden agenda?" she demanded.

Northwest Territories Teacher's Association (NWTTA) president Amanda Mallon told trustees and the packed crowd that she was alerted to the possible change by a teacher and members of the press.

News of the implications of the French Revitalization Project recommendations was only leaked to teachers and parents mid-month. Notice of the special meeting was released last Friday, while information about the proposed changes only became available Monday.

The project approval was originally on the agenda for a Jan. 11 meeting, but was delayed by the board.

"We were not contacted for input nor informed at any point in this process," said Mallon.

Parent Debra Kruger addressed the board next, advising them of her family's decision to yank their three kids out of Yk No. 1 and put into Yellowknife Catholic schools.

"In the past five years my faith in Yk No. 1 has been tested many times," she said.

"I have lost total respect for your administration and board members."

Parent Andy Bevan also took to the podium to address the six attending trustees.

"As elected officials you have ethical, moral and legal requirements to operate in a manner that's open and transparent," said Bevan, who has two children at J.H. Sissons.

He repeatedly called the consultation process "bizarre," expressing his disappointment with it.

Brenda Dragon, president of the Canadian Parents for French, was the only speaker endorsing the proposed changes.

She urged parents to attend information sessions and learn the research behind the district's decisions that would take Yk No. 1 in a new direction. Dragon sat down to polite applause from the crowd.

Board chairperson Reanna Erasmus ended the meeting with an attempt to placate the angry crowd, who filled seats in the boardroom and also spilled into the hall and sat on the floor.

"We do have the children's best interests at heart. Our intention was not to work in isolation.

"We have heard that you would like more public consultation," she concluded.

Erasmus asked the crowd to attend a public information session at the school on Jan. 20. At that meeting, Wally Lazaruk, who was contracted to do the French review, was available to answer questions.

After Tuesday's meeting, Erasmus said she was pleased with the event, adding that the district is prepared to delay the September 2005 implementation if that is what the public wants. "We have to have the public feel comfortable, so if it takes a little longer, then it takes a little bit longer," she said.

The French review that spawned the controversial decision was conducted in the fall of 2004. It was the result of the district looking to increase student enrolment in French immersion and core French, as well as strengthen programming.

Fewer than 300 people, including students, French teachers and parents, were surveyed in September.

A further 153 people were interviewed as part of the consultation process. English teachers were excluded.

Of the 11 recommendations made by the Alberta company Evaluation Plus, the board is considering four of them: starting early and late immersion programs, phasing out middle immersion and establishing a single-track immersion school at Sissons.

Erasmus said federal funding available under the Action Plan for Official Languages won't be affected by the delay.