YELLOWKNIFE - The chair of Yellowknife Catholic Schools is accusing Education Minister Charles Dent of systematically trying to eliminate Catholic education in the city after the two failed to agree on a retrofit plan for Ecole St. Joseph.

Shannon Gullberg says Education Minister Charles Dent is delaying the retrofit of Ecole St. Joseph because he opposes Catholic education. - Christine Grimard/NNSL photo

"His plan is to keep the numbers down, don't let us spread, and eventually he'll eradicate us," Shannon Gullberg told the Yellowknife Catholic school board Wednesday evening.

Gullberg said that she met with Dent prior to the board meeting to discuss the retrofitting of Ecole St. Joseph, which was damaged in a fire last August.

"He continues to waffle on concrete plans for us," said Gullberg, adding that the minister has failed to support the Catholic school board, and that his position, "showed a lack of understanding and respect for Catholic education."

"You will never hear the minister say anything good about Catholic education," said Gullberg.

An $18 million retrofit is scheduled for 2008, but the Catholic school district is hoping to have it bumped up a year because of the fire.

When confronted with the accusations yesterday, Dent seemed puzzled.

"Here in the NWT we've agreed to publicly fund denominational education systems; we support faith-based education unquestionably and it's accorded the same status as any publicly funded education system," said Dent.

"It's unfortunate Shannon Gullberg has to let her frustration get the better of her. I don't think it's helpful to get into a personal attack," he added.

Dent said that his department is planning to rebuild the school beginning this spring or summer. Dent also mentioned that his son is a student at Ecole St. Joseph.

At the meeting, Gullberg also made reference to a pending court decision - one a majority of board members hope will land in favour of their desire to restrict non-Catholic members from standing for elections to the board.

The court case was also mentioned in the board's review of the district's budget. Current administration expenditures under fees and services - budgeted at $144,000 - stands are almost $35,000 over budget. Trustee Amy Hacala, the only non-Catholic elected to the board in last October's board elections, asked Gullberg how much of that figure was for legal fees related to the court case.

Gullberg would not answer Hacala, saying that she was not privy to that information. She said the cost of legal fees is subject to change, but she is confident that the board will receive some assistance to offset the cost.

"But you can't bank on that?" asked Hacala, to which Gullberg responded, "No, but it's highly likely."

Superintendent Kern Von Hagen vowed that the legal costs will be made public eventually.

"When you're a public organization, you have to defend yourself," said VonHagen. "This is not about an individual, it's a far bigger issue. Either defend yourself, or we're going to be rolled over."

Von Hagen wouldn't say, however, who was going to assist the board with their legal costs.

- With files from Jason Unrau