THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - A proposed change in territorial funding is threatening the future of a successful alternative school in Fort Smith.

Julie Lys: chair of the Fort Smith District Education Authority finds a GNWT funding proposal bizarre. - NNSL file photo

Under a proposal from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, financial support for alternative schools would change from formula funding – meaning support based on the number of students – to block funding next school year.

For the Phoenix School in Fort Smith, that would mean a funding decrease of $227,000.

Phoenix School, which opened in the fall of 2007, is officially part of Paul William Kaeser (PWK) High School, but run at arm's length in a different location – the nearby Fort Smith Recreation Centre.

Julie Lys, chair of the Fort Smith District Education Authority, said the funding change would put the existence of the Phoenix School in jeopardy.

"We are going to do everything that we can to maintain the program that we have," she said. "It's been a very successful program."

In the Phoenix School's first three years, 29 students have graduated high school. The vast majority of those graduates – 26 – have been aboriginal.

Lys noted that, out of the 57 students enrolled this year, 24 are expected to graduate.

Phoenix School serves people who have trouble fitting into the regular school system for various reasons.

Lys finds it difficult to understand the department's proposed funding change.

"It's kind of bizarre that on one hand they would be travelling around the North asking about how to improve aboriginal education and at the same time be sending us notification that they're going to cut what works," she said.

Lys noted the government also wants the Phoenix School on site at PWK and to have it operated during regular school hours.

However, that goes against what has made it successful, she said. "It's a little bit more accessible and it's available in the evening so, if students have jobs or if they have children, it's just more accessible."

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment was contacted by News/North, but it could not provide a comment for this story by deadline.

The Fort Smith District Education Authority received a letter from the department in November outlining the proposed funding model for alternative schools.

Since then, the authority has written Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jackson Lafferty about the issue, and met with Thebacha MLA Michael Miltenberger and the community's aboriginal groups.

Late last month, the Northwest Territory Metis Nation passed a resolution at its annual general assembly in Hay River in support of the "valuable and successful" Phoenix School.

The resolution requested the GNWT allocate sufficient funding to see it continue.

"Why would they cut a successful program that educates people?" said Ken Hudson, president of the Fort Smith Metis Council.

PWK principal Al Karasiuk confirmed the Phoenix School is in danger of closing.

"No decision has been made at this point in time," he said. "Based on current information regarding next year's funding, something is going to have to happen."

That means Phoenix School would have to close or more funding would have to be found.

Karasiuk noted well over 100 students have attended the school since it opened.

"It's been a great success," he said.

Karasiuk said it's difficult to say how much funding it takes to operate the Phoenix School.

"I can't really break it down," he explained. "I mean we have the funding for the whole high school, which includes the Phoenix School program."

It operates with two teachers and, along with classes during the school year, it has offered two summer schools.

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