William McDonald Middle School could be offered up to the French school board in a maneuver that's being kept under lock and key by both school districts and the territorial government. - NNSL file photo |
School may go to French board
William McDonald Middle School on the table as GNWT tries to fulfill court order to provide better facilities
Candace Thomson
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 13, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
William McDonald Middle School may be on the table to become the new French school in the city as the territorial government strives to meet a court-ordered obligation to provide francophone students with expanded facilities, including a gymnasium and science lab.
Officials remain tight-lipped about the deal, but Yellowknifer has learned the GNWT has offered William McDonald, currently owned and operated by Yellowknife Education No. 1, to the Commission scolaire francophone de Territories du Nord-Ouest, which operates Ecole Allain St-Cyr in Yellowknife and Ecole Boreale in Hay River.
It was revealed earlier this week that the GNWT also offered to swap Harry Camsell School in Hay River, which the GNWT does own, with Ecole Boreale. Curtis Brown, superintendent of the South Slave Divisional Council told the Hay River Hub the offer appears to be a compromise.
The GNWT is appealing a 2012 NWT Supreme Court decision to expand both French schools, which the government expects will cost $28 million.
Yk1 board chair John Stephenson confirmed Wednesday that the board had received a "facilities proposal" from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), but would not elaborate on what that entailed.
"We received it in confidence from the minister and deputy minister, and we've been respecting the confidence that they requested of us," Stephenson said, adding the board asked the minister for permission to share the proposal's details with parents and staff, but were told to keep the proposal private "to allow them the opportunity for further discussions."
Suzette Montreuil, president of the francophone school board, declined to comment and said the matter was "not public information."
Officials from education department also refused to comment.
The territorial government was required in June 2012 to support expansions at Allain St-Cyr and the francophone school in Hay River by 2015. Justice Louise Charbonneau ordered Allain St-Cyr in Yellowknife and Ecole Boreale in Hay River be expanded to provide the students with greater facilities - namely gymnasiums - and to accommodate up to 250 students. Allain St-Cyr currently has 131 students, with a capacity for 160 pupils.
Students at Allain St-Cyr must go to the Multiplex arena for physical education classes as there is no gymnasium at the school. Neighbouring William McDonald, like all Yk1 schools, does have a gym.
- with files from Cody Punter
