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 Rankin Inlet district education authority members are Joanie Brown, Darrin Nichol (chairperson) and Stan Anderson, back row from left, Louis Tattuinee and Luc Issaluk, front right. Missing from photo are Bernadette Tutanuak and Ishmael Naulalik. |
Chairperson Darrin Nichol says among the key items the Rankin DEA will be dealing with are the Government of Nunavut's (GN) new bilingual education strategy and a curriculum-development initiative, which will provide new graduation options for Nunavut students.
Nichol says the members will also work to elevate the authority's profile within the community.
"It's vital for us to seek more input from the community and, to that end, we'll be hosting a community radio show on April 21, at 7 p.m.," says Nichol
"Given the importance of future GN initiatives, it's imperative these types of consultations become a more common occurrence."
Internally, the Rankin DEA will be working to update a number of policies affecting all three local schools.
During the next six months, the DEA will initiate a student-assessment policy and a new approach to using school gyms and other facilities.
"This won't be to discourage anyone from using the facilities, but to apply the same rules across the board to all groups and organizations.
"We hope to have that out by September, while the student-assessment policy should be tabled for review during the next few weeks."
The DEA initiative which may prove itself to be the most contentious is a discipline policy to encompass all three schools.
Nichol says the DEA hopes to have the standard in place by the end of 2005.
"There are some guidelines and protocols in place, but many of them are either school-specific, or have become outdated over time.
"We know we won't be able to please everyone with this initiative, but our goal is to have a fair policy in place that's applicable to all three school administrations."
Speak for community
Nichol says he expects additional graduation options to be built into the existing curriculum in a number of communities during the next 12 to 18 months.
He says the goal of the initiative is to enhance Nunavut's graduation statistics.
"On the bilingual and curriculum-development issues, the community can rest assured the DEA will passionately represent the views of Rankin Inlet.
"We will not be deterred in any way, shape or form from loudly advocating any move or initiative the community feels is in the best interests of our students."
