SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife Education District No. 1 is anticipating spending more cash by shopping locally under the territorial government's business incentive program.

Since Nov. 1 the district has had to place requests for tenders on services, goods or construction through the GNWT's website.

"They've mandated that we follow policy as they follow it," said Tram Do, director of corporate services for the district.

"One of our concerns is possible rising cost with this new requirement. Various departments are not welcoming the process so it is a challenge for us to ensure compliance."

Trustee Duff Spence said in the past the district was encouraged to do its business locally anyway.

"We do business with people who do business with us," said Spence. "Truly it's a bigger picture than just the cost."

Drug survey for middle school students

A drug survey is being designed for middle school students in grades 6 to 8.

Trustee Reanna Erasmus said the Committee for the Prevention of Youth Substance Abuse (CPYSA) is looking to target a different age group. Last year, the committee conducted a survey of high school students in the city.

The survey reported that four per cent of students in grades 9 to 12 had used crack-cocaine, among other concerns.

"They realized in doing that survey among the high school students that they should really be doing a survey with the middle school students," said Erasmus. "So they are designing a survey that will be given to middle school students on drug use and implications on kind of changing the students' attitude at that younger age instead of waiting until they're in high school."

The committee is made up of government, RCMP and other individuals.

Amazing race for Yellowknife?

Two members of Sir John Franklin High School's student council made a presentation proposing to hold an Amazing Race event in Yellowknife.

Based on the reality television show, the student council proposed to hold a day-long scavenger hunt/race throughout the city on May 13, 2010.

"Our objective for this whole activity is to be the first event to incorporate the whole Sir John Franklin school body," said Ian Anderson, student council president.

The council estimated the event will cost $5,000.

Spence asked if the district's insurance would cover a event of this size.

"We basically have to do sort of a risk analysis of the whole project," said Tram Do, director of corporate services for the district.

Do said she would contact the insurance company to find an answer.

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