Inuvik (Mar 14/05) - A principal known for his concern for Sir Alexander Mackenzie school (SAMS) students should have his contract extended, say elementary school staff members.

They are not happy with the District Education Authority's (DEA) decision not to extend current principal Bernie MacLean's contract for one more year.

A contingent attended a DEA meeting last month, hoping to convince the board to let him stay.

"Mr. MacLean prides himself in not allowing any child to fall between the cracks," said spokesperson Chris Gilmour, a SAMS teacher, reading from a letter signed by 33 staff members from the school.

MacLean would have served his ninth year at the elementary school beginning next fall.

"We appreciate very much your support for him," said DEA chair Judy Harder, who noted that MacLean's contract had already been extended four times -- each time for a one-year period.

"The decision was based on the DEA's desire for a three to five year commitment. There's no guarantee the new person will stay three years," said Aleisha Manuel, a teacher at Inuvik's Samuel Hearne secondary school (SHSS). "And you have stability in place already."

Harder told News/North later in the week that the board was sticking to its plan.

"With the new school being planned, we want to be proactive and have a principal who will be a part of that."

MacLean was not at the DEA meeting and declined to comment on the matter.