Jessica Gray
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 18/06) - The first meeting of the Education District No. 1 in 2006 lasted only half an hour.

"It seems like such a short time since we last met," said Chairwoman Reanna Erasmus.

Trustees kept their updates brief, outlining a busy December schedule with many school concerts and fundraisers attended.

The update from the finance committee was also brief. There were no board member reports or in camera sessions.

The next public meeting is scheduled for Feb. 14.

Website to be updated

Yk No. 1's website is set to be revamped this year.

A date when the updated site will be ready has not yet been set.

Budget in good shape

The Education District No.1 school budgets are looking very healthy says director of corporate services, Tram Do.

She says the district will meet its budget goals and might do little bit better, she says.

The basis for Do's report was the financial statements from all public school in Yellowknife over the last six months.

The district had a surplus of more than $80,000 in the budget at the end of December.

Trustees ask for reviews

Trustee Dale Thompson asked the finance committee to review the monthly expenditures of district administrators.

He is interested in seeing if the district can look support more local businesses when buying supplies.

"If [supplies] are available locally, certainly, we should be ordering it through local suppliers," he said.

Expenditures range from almost $60,000 at J.H. Sissons school to more than $260,000 at Sir John Franklin school. On purchases more than $30,000, the district follows the Financial Management Act.

Trustee Duff Spence has also asked the finance committee to examine the rent being charged at the district-owned Nordic Arms apartments.

Exam period

Sir John Franklin school's exam period begins Jan. 19 and ends Jan. 30.

St. Patrick's school exams take place from Jan. 19 to Jan. 27.