YK1 School Board briefs
Trustees, parents create facilities committee
Candace Thomson
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, March 19, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
In light of a facilities proposal from the territorial government requesting Yellowknife Education District No. 1 give up William McDonald School, trustees have formed an ad-hoc committee with participation from teachers and parents to determine the long-term plan for Yk1's facilities.
Sir John Franklin High School student council president Ian Dayagbil, 17, left, N.J. Macpherson principal Shirley Zouboules, Emma Wicks, 10, Yellowknife Education District No. 1 chair John Stephenson and Jan McCreadie, member of the Yellowknife Co-op board of directors, show off the cheques that the Co-op is donating to each Yk1 school during a board meeting March 11, with different amounts depending on enrolment at the schools. - Candace Thomson/NNSL photo |
"We're not looking at what needs to be done right now but where do we see ourselves going and how do we best offer our services to our students," said Heather Clarke, vice-chair of the Yk1 during a school board meeting March 11.
"Our priorities are our students and programs, and we're determining what the best way to meet our needs is."
The committee's goals are to identify options for future use of the facilities, engage with the community to get input on future use and make recommendations regarding school utilization, Clarke said.
The committee has sent a letter to Jackson Lafferty, minister of Education, Culture and Employment, informing him of the group and of public meetings in April and May which the GNWT is invited to attend.
"It's a very exciting opportunity for us to take the time to look at our facilities and have our parents involved in that process of looking where we're going in the future and moving forward," Clarke said.
Co-op donates to schools
The Yellowknife Co-op store showed up to last week's board meeting bearing gifts for each school in Yk1.
Jeffrey Kincaid, manager of business and member development at the store, explained the donations were part of the company's donation policy each year.
"The Yk Co-op board of directors over the past several years has issued out a donation to schools to assist with youth healthy activities," said Kincaid. "And there's no better way to do that than go straight to the schools."
The donations are based on enrolment numbers at the schools, with Sir John Franklin High School
getting the biggest donation of $1,048, and Kaw Tay Whee the lowest with $105.
The Co-op also donated to schools in the Yellowknife Catholic Schools district, with a combined contribution between the two school boards of $6,800.
Health and safety policy approved
A new health and safety policy will be rolling out in Yk1 schools with a guidebook on how to follow it.
"We believe our health and safety system is an integral part of our operational activities and each of us must share the responsibility to ensure the health and safety of all persons engaged in work activities for Yk1," the policy reads.
The safety plan formed from the policy hasn't been completed yet, but will include a job safety and hazard analysis, which will identify required safety equipment depending on the work environment.
John Stephenson, chair of the board of trustees, said the policy will enter the schools in the coming weeks.
