Yellowknife (Aug 18/06) - A devastating fire at Yellowknife's St. Joseph School will have a minimal impact on the upcoming 2006-2007 Catholic School Board budget, according to administrators.

Mike Huvenaars, assistant superintendent of business, told a group of parents Tuesday night the board is on solid financial footing.

Insurance will cover the extra expenses borne from the fire, including renting classroom space from the capital's other school district, Yk 1, Huvenaars said.

"We have enough money in the bank to completely cover things until the insurance kicks in."

Fire tore through the Range Lake Road school Aug. 3, destroying four portable classrooms and a gymnasium. Police believe the blaze was intentionally set.

The 2006 Yellowknife Catholic School Board budget was passed in June following a month-long delay. Officials were waiting for the government to broker a deal that would have seen the overcrowded district get more space, possibly at the expense of Yk 1.

While that deal never came, budget numbers showed the school board is doing well financially. The projected surplus for the upcoming year is $66,752 and the total accumulated surplus is $522,323.

The budget does not include a tax increase for Yellowknifers during the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

The fire will affect the number and distribution of staff members, however. In the budget report, there will be a total of 3.5 additional staff for the fall of 2006, and an increase of 4.6 teachers.

Board members will decide how to spend the insurance money as it comes in, Huvenaars said.

"We have a high level plan and a very good blueprint for the upcoming year. We will be able to adjust to anything that comes up."

Administrators plan to collaborate with the aboriginal community in an effort to improve culture and language programs. "Last year we got a new aboriginal program director, and changed things a great deal."

Meanwhile, the territorial education department increased funding for full-time kindergarten classes and programs for students with learning disabilities.

Dettah students who attend Catholic schools in Yellowknife are now funded by the Dettah Divisional Education authority. In January, Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre will receive its fifth donation from De Beers Canada Mining Inc. of $100,000.