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Rules to learn by

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 7, 2007

RANKIN INLET - A revamped discipline policy for all three schools in Rankin Inlet is one-step closer to being initiated.

The Rankin District Education Authority (DEA) held a two-hour show on local radio this past week.

The call-in program gave parents the opportunity to discuss the discipline policy and any other concerns they may have related to education.

DEA chairperson Darrin Nichol said people in the community agree that the existing discipline policy has to be brought up to date.

He said the phone-in show went extremely well.

"The phones rang off of the hook and we could have easily gone another hour," said Nichol.

"The discipline policy was put out as the show's key discussion point, but we did open the show up, as we always do, to other topics people wanted to discuss.

"In the end, the actual discipline policy accounted for about 20 per cent of what was discussed during the show."

The discipline policy is one component of the DEA's school-improvement strategy, which tackles issues across the entire spectrum of education in Rankin.

Nichol said one of the underlying goals of the DEA is to revisit policies that it feels must be updated.

He said the DEA has already completed a student-assessment policy, a code of conduct for DEA members, and a joint-use-facility agreement between the hamlet and the three schools.

"The discipline policy is a big issue that's been deferred a bit during the past year because it takes a lot to move it through.

"It's been one of our main targets for a long time and we've finally reached the draft stage.

"The draft we distributed for parents to look at this past month is not the actual policy, but more of a set of guidelines.

"We expect the final policy to be adopted by the DEA near the end of March."

The Rankin DEA continues to solicit input from parents because the final policy will impact every child in the education system.

The draft policy contains three levels ranging from classroom disruption to minor theft and altercations to possession of weapons and deliberate physical violence.

Nichol said the draft is, in reality, three levels of tolerance which illustrate the degrees of discipline involved with any particular problem.

"The final policy will address specific matters relevant to Alaittuq school, Leo Ussak elementary and Maani Ulujuk high school (MUI).

"Discipline isn't a huge issue at the elementary school, and issues there are different from what they would be at the other two schools.

"The policy will include some rather broad statements in regards to a student's right to be safe, happy and free to learn in a productive environment while attending school.

"And, there will also be school-specific regulations as they relate to discipline and the population at each school.

"I'm not suggesting there's a problem at MUI, but issues there tend to be more specific in terms of operating within the rules of the school."

There have been no instances of staff members at MUI feeling threatened or uncomfortable around students brought to the DEA's attention during the past year.

Nichol said the discipline policy is simply another way for the DEA to execute good governance in keeping its policies current and relevant.

He said the Rankin DEA is lucky to have strong support in the community from parents who take education seriously, work hard to get their kids to attend school, and encourage them to get a good education.

"The discipline policy is viewed as a pressing issue by parents and we may not be entirely finished with the consultation process yet.

"Parents want us to be vigilant in ensuring the schools their kids attend are safe and free of inappropriate behaviour.

"They want both students and parents to always feel welcome at all three Rankin schools.

"When all is said and done, Rankin parents want to know when they send their children to school, they're going to a place that's safe, good for them to be at, and where they can learn."