Yellowknife (Jun 28/06) - Yellowknife Catholic Schools has Education Minister Charles Dent in its sights as it fights to get new space for its overcrowded schools.

The Catholic board (YCS) has been in secret meetings to come up with a strategy to force Dent to give them a new school. That looks to be a tall order after Dent said Monday that he believes the government doesn't need to do anything more.

"The territorial government believes that they have fulfilled their obligation to the Catholic minority schools," said Dent.

YCS blasted the minister in a recent newsletter, saying: "the process chosen by the minister has created an environment for both YCS and YK#1 where both have been placed in an untenable situation."

Superintendent Kern Von Hagen said YCS has been forced to take this drastic action because it's been nearly two months since Dent received recommendations from a facilities committee on how to address school space problems in the city and there has been no decision.

"Our position is that we are prepared and willing to accommodate whatever creative solution and work with the government," said Von Hagen. "But we've been through two committees and it hasn't worked."

Dent appointed the committee of YCS, Yk Education District No. 1 and Aurora College last fall to plan future education facility needs.

Their first task was to report back on ways to address overcrowding at the three Catholic schools, which have been at 100 per cent capacity for at least two years.

In comparison, Yk No. 1 has 900 empty seats in its schools.

The committee had three options: share a school between the two districts, transfer a Yk No. 1 school to YCS or cap new enrolment at YCS to Catholics only.

The committee was unable to reach a consensus.

Von Hagen said the Catholic board sent a letter detailing its position to Dent, but have so far not heard anything from him, except that he has read it.

"We have a difference of opinion," said Dent.

"I will respond formally in a letter. I can't just turn around in two or three days and respond. Our office receives a lot of letters."

As well, he said he's asked the department's lawyers to examine some legal issues.

"The NWT Act is where our guidelines come from," said Dent. "We want our lawyers to talk to their lawyers to resolve this issue."

Von Hagen said he understands it's a difficult problem but suggested Dent is looking to his officials to make the decision, rather than doing it himself.

"This whole process was designed to meet facility needs for all stakeholders," said Von Hagen.

"The preferred option is that we build a new school - and it is the (department's) responsibility to help with the cost."

Dent said that given the empty seats in city schools, that isn't an option.

"It would be fiscally irresponsible to build another school," said Dent.