SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - There have been several staff resignations at Yk Education District No. 1, meaning the board might have to look south to fill some of the spaces.

"We've had a few resignations which means we may have to go out of town for recruitment," said board trustee Blake Lyons during the financial report Wednesday night.

So far, seven teachers have resigned, two of which were already on a leave from last year. Four of the teachers taught at the high school level while three taught classes between Kindergarten and Grade 8.

According to the superintendent's notes, Jean-Martie Mariez, supervisor of instruction for French programs, is currently interviewing down south for French immersion teachers.

Enrolment up

The student numbers are up for the coming academic year.

In superintendent Metro Huculak's draft enrolment predictions, there will be approximately 1,800 students in the district next year as well as between 75 and 100 Route 51 students for around 1,900 students in total. There are 1,867 students enrolled this year.

"We're hoping to hit that target. It depends how many people move out of Yellowknife. If we get very little movement out then it's looking very positive for us," said Huculak.

Tram Do, director of corporate services, said with the increased enrolment, the board's market share is anticipated to increase.

"With the increase in the market share versus the other school boards, it's just a natural progression that we will have that higher proportion of city taxes coming to us and less to the other schools," she said.

The ratio of taxes coming to Yk1 will increase by about 1.11 per cent.

Aboriginal students head to national leadership event

Two students from Grade 11 or 12 will be heading to Ottawa at the end of the month as part of an Aboriginal Youth Leaders and International Career Perspectives event put on by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

"We are invited to send two students who will be representing the NWT," said superintendent Metro Huculak.

The two-day event is set up for high-school aged aboriginal youth leaders from Northern Canada.

According to the invitation to the event sent to Huculak, the event is organized to help students and student counsellors learn more about the range of career opportunities with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa, in regional offices across the country and around the world.

The invitation states the event also allows the department to learn more about what can be done to attract greater numbers of aboriginal students to the department.

Camp Akaitcho going back to roots

After two years of being run somewhat like an aboriginal language and cultured-based education program (ALC), co-ordinator Jeff Seabrook said he was trying to get Camp Akaitcho back to its roots as its own independent operation, he told the board meeting.

"It's designed as a leadership opportunity based on a middle school philosophy," said Seabrook.

He said the camp falls under the umbrella of the ALC program with its content but made it clear it is not part of the ALC program.

"The camp ran differently (over the past two years) and it was not as successful and that has been found through discussion with the administrators, students and teachers that ran the camp. It was never meant to be run as an ALC program. We do have some differences in philosophy, differences on how it should be run," he said.

Preparation for the camp as well as the camp experience runs from January to March.

This year, Seabrook said the camp is made up of 20 Grade 8 students, when usually only 16 are chosen to participate.

The camp is run by William McDonald Middle School. Since its beginning in 2002, the camp has acquired more than $350,000 in funds and in-kind material and equipment for its operation.

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