Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 09/05) - The start of school may elicit groans from students, but for the heads of Yellowknife's district education authorities, it means continuing work on construction projects, new programs and welcoming new staff.

Yellowknife Catholic schools and Yellowknife Education District No. 1 have their hands full of construction projects, new programs and new staff as the 2005/2006 school year gets underway. Students filled the halls for registration this week at Sir John Franklin high school.

A $1.5 million building expansion, more students in schools and a review of teaching standards are what's on Kern Von Hagen's mind this week.

Construction on the Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre will start this fall, a project that will see the trade centre double in size after operating for only one year.

"It looks very different even now," says Von Hagen, superintendent of the Yellowknife Catholic Schools.

A welding shed and a section of an old building attached to the centre have already been torn down, to make way for construction that will add two more bays to the building.

The project, expected to open to students by the end of February, was funded by corporate sponsors led by De Beers and matched by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

A growing student body is also a top issue for YCS. The district's three schools are nearing or at capacity, with an enrolment cap still on at Ecole St. Joseph.

Despite the full classes, the district let in 20-30 new students this fall.

"Our enrolment suggests that we've grown...I don't know how we're doing that because we don't have any more room," says Von Hagen.

Both YCS and Yellowknife Education District No. 1 are awaiting decisions by the government about the 10-year plan for educational facilities in the city.

Yk No. 1 has unfinished renovations to be done, including the demolition of Akaitcho Hall, but has plenty of room in its schools for more students.

The 10-year plan should be completed in September.

Yk No. 1 welcomed new superintendent Metro Huculak in August.

Huculak is busy meeting staff and students and visiting district facilities.

The former St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic division superintendent in Leduc, Alberta, is keeping an eye on the completion of construction at Mildred Hall elementary school, which should be done by the end of September.

The school's enrolment has already jumped up 40 students after suffering a big loss due to the two-year construction phase.

The district launched two classes of early French immersion at J.H. Sissons this year as well.

Thirty kindergarten and Grade 1 students are enroled in the new program, which will be assessed as it goes.

Huculak is also working with the board of trustees and administration to get up to speed on the direction of the district.

"As a school board, you try to promote programs that meet the needs of the clientele," he said.

Focusing on students and staff is going to be a major focus for him and the district for the 2005/2006 school year, he said.