Yellowknife (Apr 26/06) - Education minister Charles Dent says it's unlikely additional space will be available for Yellowknife Catholic Schools (YCS) in time for the beginning of the next school year.

A report from a school facilities committee on how to meet Yellowknife's future education needs is expected to be delivered to Dent on May 4. The committee included representatives from the Catholic board, Yk Education District No. 1 and Aurora College.

"I would be surprised if additional space (for YCS) is found by September," said Dent, Friday.

He appointed the committee after a 10-year Education Facilities Plan commissioned by the territorial government said a new Catholic school isn't needed because there's space for 900 students in the city's public schools.

The facilities committee had three options: giving YCS one of the public schools, capping YCS enrolment or sharing a school between the two districts.

There was some controversy over why a March 29 meeting was cancelled, but committee chair Hal Gerein said the process overall was "empowering."

"It's an opportunity to co-operate and collaborate," said Gerein, a former deputy minister of education.

The committee will not release its findings to the public, Gerein said.

It's up to Minister Dent to make a decision on the report's recommendations, he said.

This committee is set to make a report on the state of educational facilities in Yellowknife, he said, and will meet again in the fall.