PAULATUK - Not only is the new alternative education program in Paulatuk teaching students about preventative maintenance on essential community equipment - it's also an exercise in preventative maintenance on life.

For the first time, Angik School in Paulatuk is offering an alternative education program for what principal Jessica Schmidt said are "high-risk students." For the current semester, students will learn preventative maintenance of equipment in the community and complete a work placement. Back row, from left, Carmen Green, Chad Wolki, Neil Wolkie. Front row, from left, Marion Ruben, Michael Grimmer, professional engineer and course instructor, Denise Wolkie and Kelly Ruben. - photo courtesy of Jessica Schmidt

Ten students are enrolled in the first alternative education program in the community. Through a two-week training program with Michael Grimmer, a U.S.-based professional engineer, students are learning how to complete maintenance work on equipment necessary to the community, like heating systems at the health centre and the equipment at the school and public works building.

Angik School principal Jessica Schmidt said the program is something she and her staff have been working toward for some time. She said without an Aurora College campus in the community, students who have a hard time remaining in the classroom or students graduating don't have an option after high school to advance their education unless they leave the community.

"We needed something additional for high-risk students who keep dropping out," she said, adding if the program is successful they might look at expanding it to be a part of the regular high school educational experience. "We wanted something a little more hands-on and spark their interest a little more."

Schmidt said one of the big reasons for the program is to train residents in maintenance so they can have a skill they can use in the community.

"We wanted to have people in the community to be trained to work with the equipment in the community," she said. "A lot of time when something goes wrong, if there isn't a trained person here there is time spent waiting for someone to come in and fix the problem. We've got capable people in the community who just need to understand how the systems work.

"We've got a lot of students who don't want to leave the community. They're happy to stay here, but they are going to need employment and this is one of the options."

Denise Wolkie said she was excited to be a part of the new program. Having spent time in and out of school over the last few years, she wanted to be part of the program to give herself some options in life.

"It's good experience. I get to learn something new," she said. "I'm happy to be back in class and learning."

Grimmer said the opportunity for students to learn applicable skills for the upkeep of their community is a chance to feel more connected to where they live and reap potential benefits from industry doing future work in the region.

"We're trying to point them in the direction of maybe considering a career in the trades," he said. "They can learn these skills and bring them back to the community and contribute to the well-being of everyone."

Students are working with Grimmer for two weeks in the classroom, learning the ins and outs of equipment in the community. After that, students will spend half their school day in a work placement with either the NWT Housing Corporation, Northwest Territories Power Corporation or the Department of Public Works - all three of which were happy to sign on to the program, said Schmidt.

"They're really excited about it (and) enjoying it a lot right now," she said of the students. "They've been in and out of the classroom so many times and this is a chance to get the hands-on work they enjoy and get out and see what their community has to offer."

Schmidt said Aurora College has a housing maintenance program the school is hoping to tie into in future years if the program is successful, giving students a chance to take what they've learnt to the college level.

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