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The DEA decided to move students from Alaittuq high school (AHS) back to Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) at the beginning of the next school term.
MUI will house Grades 7 to 12, while Grade 5 and 6 students will attend Simon Alaittuq school.
DEA chairperson Stan Anderson said the change was made to address capacity issues. AHS's capacity is estimated to be about 170 students.
The DEA projects upwards of 220 students could attend senior Grades this coming year.
No gag order
Anderson acknowledges the decision is unpopular among students.
But contrary to rumours in the community, the DEA never issued a gag order to local teachers during the decision-making process.
"The teachers union reminded them that their code of conduct requires they don't try to influence the agenda of the students," said Anderson.
"There's a fine line between informing and directing, and there are some things you simply can't discuss in the classroom."
Student council member Michelle Jackson (Grade 11) said the students' biggest concern is that they weren't notified when the issue was being discussed.
She said students didn't know what was going on until after the DEA's decision was finalized.
"From what we were told, the teachers weren't allowed to tell the students about it because they're not supposed to influence our opinions in any way, but not telling us was even worse," said Jackson.
"You'd think somebody would have wanted to know how we felt about leaving our own school."
AHS students were considering staging a walkout to protest the decision when school reconvenes after the Easter break.
Jackson said DEA members may also be receiving a symbolic piece of AHS, in hopes they will remember this situation when the next major decision has to be made.
"Maybe they'll look at that symbol and remember the students at AHS weren't even given a chance to voice their concerns."
