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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A new healthy schools committee, led by chairperson John Stephenson, aims to promote healthy lifestyles and raise awareness for mental health issues and other health problems faced by students.

Metro Huculak, superintendent of Education District No. 1, was particularly interested in the mental health side of the initiative, applauding the new committee for its plans to tackle the sensitive subject in schools. Recent high-profile examples of teen suicides as a result of bullying throughout North America put this issue to mind, he said.

"It appears to be an issue in all districts," said Huculak, adding that mental health is a subject for both staff and students to consider.

The new committee had its first meeting on April 3, which Stephenson said went well.

"I was very encouraged about how much the committee members were involved," he said, adding the committee is still looking for an active parent to join the cause.

Annual budget in the works

Yk1 is working on its new budget for the 2013/14 school year and is in talks with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to discuss pension funding for staff, said Tram Do, director of corporate services.

"We're approaching year end and we're making sure everybody stays on budget as much as possible," she told the board while giving an update on budget preparations.

Later, while giving a finance committee update, board member Terry Brookes said the board is aiming for a balanced budget for the coming year, without cutting programs, so they can maintain their current surplus.

"We still have a healthy surplus but it's been being whittled down recently," he said. "So, we have to level out, so to speak."

The plan for the new committee is to eventually expand to include all schools in Yellowknife, and discussions are being had to include Yellowknife as a whole as well, said Stephenson.

Pipes burst during spring break

While students and staff were away on March break, maintenance supervisor Elvis Beaudoin and his team had two pipe freeze-ups to deal with.

One was a sewer line near Sir John Franklin High School. This has happened several times in the past, leading board member Terry Brookes to ask if the board should lobby the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), which used to run the school, to fix the problem.

Superintendent Metro Huculak responded that ECE is "well aware" of the sewer line issues at the high school, as well as problems with the school's sidewalks.

Another water line froze near the road to J.H. Sissons School, which Beaudoin called "strange."

Chair Alan Shortt added it would be a good idea for the board to add bleeder lines to all its schools, which would keep water flowing during holidays and save money in the long run.

Shortt also commented on the state of sidewalks near Sir John, calling them "a real shame" and suggesting that when they are redone, maintenance crews should consider adding more grass and beautification to save on concrete.

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