Yellowknife (Apr 19/06) - All school fees, which include paying for class materials and extra curricular activities, will be discontinued.

Yellowknife Education District No.1 trustees voted unanimously at their board meeting April 11 to stop charging students the fees as of the next school year.

"It's too much (to charge students)," said trustee Duff Spence.

He said the total the schools raise with the fees is between $30,000-35,000.

Controversy erupted when the territorial government said schools could no longer charge aboriginal students school fees in 2003.

Trustee Lavona Clarke said deposits covering books, locks and lost school property will remain in place.

Mildred Hall gets $250,000

Mildred Hall school will receive $250,000 in Northern Strategy funding.

Trustee Keith Scott said the money will go towards the revitalization of the Mildred Hall grounds, which includes new playground equipment, and cultural and environmental study areas behind the school. Scott said one if the first initiatives will be to add grass to the front area.

Sissons renovation update

Trustees asked board chairperson Reanna Erasmus to speak to the Education Minister about the renovation plans for Ecole J.H. Sissons.

The board is hoping to have J.H. Sissons be renovated at the same time as Ecole St. Joseph, beginning in 2007. To do so, the board would need the same $10,000 allotted to St. Joseph to enter the planning stages of the renovation. Right now, the renovation plans for J.H. Sissons are scheduled for 2008.