Yellowknife (Feb 24/06) - Catholic school parents didn't hold back the punches at the Yellowknife Catholic School (YCS) board's open forum Tuesday evening at Ecole St. Joseph school.

The forum was organized to inform parents about problems with overcrowding at all three Catholic schools in Yellowknife.

A 10-Year Facilities Education Plan completed last December shows YCS schools at 99 per cent capacity.

"It looks like we'll need about 400 seats to deal with the crowding," said parent Tim Griffen. "I don't see any option but to build a new school."

Because the YCS request for a new school was denied, the only other option right now is taking over a school from Yk 1, say parents.

"I'm concerned about the impact of flipping a school for the community. I know we need a school from Yk 1, but I fear pitting one board against another," said parent Cheryl Wourms.

She chose to enrol her children in Catholic schools to learn about Christian values. She does not believe capping enrolment to Catholics only is the right decision.

"I don't see an end to the growth," said Lee Sacrey.

Trustees made it clear that recommendations to share facilities with the Yk No. 1 District and capping enrolment are not feasible options.

More than 100 parents, administrators and teachers were in attendance.

Board chair Shannon Gullberg presented an overview of the facilities plan. Principals from each of the schools also gave parents an overview of the space issues they face in the schools every day.

"One of the hardest duties I've ever faced as a principal was telling a parent I had room for their children in Grades 2 and 3, but not the child in Grade 5," said Weledeh principal Merril Dean.

She told parents she turned away 36 students last year. Weledeh has eight students on a waiting list for next year and she expects more.

At St. Patrick Catholic high school, principal Johnnie Bowden faces a similar space crunch.

"We only have one computer lab in the school and though we could convert any one of our classrooms into a lab, none are available anytime during the day."

Ecole St. Joseph principal Flo Campbell congratulated her staff for being so creative when scheduling time-tables.

"But we're getting tired. All our nooks and crannies are utilized, expanded and full."

Parents, well aware of the space problems their children are facing, applauded the efforts of teachers and administration, but questioned the decision to deny the board a school.

Catholic superintendent Kern Von Hagen is hopeful the facilities committee created to solve this problem would arrive at a resolution.

He and the board would like to have this problem solved by the next school year.

Gullberg said there is no specific preference for any of the Yk 1 schools as of yet, but said William McDonald school or J.H. Sissons school are being suggested by YCS.

Education Minister Charles Dent spoke at the end of the two and a half hour forum, saying he couldn't justify building a new school in Yellowknife with more than 900 spaces available in Yk 1.