Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Oct 10/05) - Hay River is once again about to make a push for more control over education.

Under a new strategy, the Hay River District Education Authority would technically remain part of the South Slave school board based in Fort Smith, but would have expanded powers and more money.

"Essentially, we are looking to have our normal formula funding through Fort Smith, but directly to us," Dave MacDonald, education authority chair, said in a presentation to town council on Oct. 3.

The education authority has prepared a business plan to present to the minister of education, along with a petition for change, sometime during the upcoming session of the legislative assembly.

A revamped Hay River authority would hire its own superintendent and comptroller, along with consultants for each of its three schools.

Hay River has objected to a lack of control over education for years.

"That's always been our complaint, that our concerns weren't being properly heard," MacDonald said, noting Hay River has only one vote among the five communities under the South Slave Divisional Education Council.

A petition to the territorial government for a separate school board for Hay River was turned down in 2000.

MacDonald described Hay River's relationship with the education council as dysfunctional and beyond repair.

There would be no tax increase to Hay River residents to pay for the new system, he said, adding, "We would enjoy a significant cash increase into our town."

MacDonald hopes to have a decision from the minister by January so a superintendent can be hired by April.

The education council has an annual budget of $18 million, with $6-$7 million of that being used for education in Hay River.

Curtis Brown, education council superintendent, sounded a bit puzzled about the authority's idea of passing funding along to Hay River.

"That's essentially what happens right now. So I can't see what's different."

As for the state of the relationship between the education council and the Hay River authority, Brown said it has improved over the last year or two. If the Hay River authority does separate, he said, "I wouldn't think the other schools would suffer."