Yellowknife (Apr 14/06) - Public school trustees are angry at what's being said in the media about a committee planning the future for Yellowknife schools.

Yk District No. 1 board plans to send a letter to the chair of the facilities committee asking members to stop talking to the media.

Trustees were visibly upset at their meeting April 11. Their comments came after board chair Reanna Erasmus said she had nothing new to report on the committee's work because a March 31 meeting was cancelled.

When that meeting was cancelled because Yk No. 1 representatives couldn't attend, Yellowknife Catholic Schools (YCS) trustees accused the public board of stalling the committee's work and questioned whether or not they would continue to take part in the process.

Trustee Terry Brookes said Yk 1 is tired of the "contention, rhetoric, accusations and postulation" over the issue.

"It's unfortunate (some committee members) created a media exposition when instructed not to," said trustee Mary Lou Cherwaty.

Yk 1 trustee and committee member Lavona Clarke said YCS was trying to push for immediate resolutions - something not in the committee's mandate.

"All we're doing is making recommendations. How they'll be acted on - we have no idea," said Clarke.

Facilities committee chair Hal Gerein, a former deputy education minister with the NWT government, said it's up to the two districts whether they speak to the media, as long as they don't comment on the committee's discussions.

"Boards are responsible for their own public relations and are accountable for their conduct," said Gerein.

"The more polarized issues become, the more difficult it is to bridge any gaps between parties."

YCS chair Shannon Gullberg said she has spoken to her board and they will attend the April 19 meeting.

"We will continue to participate," she said.

"What's important to remember is our primary obligation is to our stakeholders. They have a right to know what's going on."

YCS hopes there will be a solution to overcrowding at the three Catholic schools come September 2006.

The facilities committee is made up of representatives from Yk 1, YCS, the Francophone school board, the city and Aurora College.

Most of the discussions are dealing with overcrowding at the three Catholic schools and the need for a new Aurora College campus in the city.

The committee has met twice so far and was supposed to meet four times before presenting recommendations to Education Minister Charles Dent by the end of April.