YK1 School Board briefs
More money for district
Candace Thomson
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, May 21, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Some happy news has come through the 2014-15 school year budget deliberations that will see Yellowknife Education District No. 1 with $117,766 more for the $30.6 million budget it presented at the May 1 ratepayers meeting.
The extra money comes from an increase in property tax revenue. During the ratepayers meeting on May 1, the board had projected a financial reduction in municipal property taxes of $74,780. Yk1 had originally slated the city tax revenue to be $5.6 million.
"An increase in our property tax revenue came from an increase in property reassessment ... and also new property developments in Yellowknife since last year," stated Tram Do, corporate services director, in an e-mail to Yellowknifer.
The total revenue for the district is now $30.7 million.
"This is a good news item as it means our deficit won't be as bad as we originally thought," said Terry Brookes, chair of the finance committee.
The revised budget was presented and approved at the board meeting May 13.
May the force be with you
Trustees were given the chance to become Jedi masters at the May 13 board meeting, at least according to a Star Wars-themed occupational health and safety quiz provided by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), which gave the quiz to all of its employees.
Tram Do, director of corporate services, went through the quiz with the trustees. Some of the questions included what to do if one's workplace is being attacked by AT-AT Walkers, the quadruped robotic killing machines from The Empire Strikes Back.
"The quiz is a fun way to answer workplace safety questions," she said.
It was given to the board from Michael Ewen with the department as part of North American Occupational Health and Safety Week.
"Most safety quizzes are normally boring," he said. "This way people get to use their imaginations while reminding themselves of safety measures."
Students from Kalemi Dene school in Ndilo also created a calendar in spirit of the week, with illustrations depicting proper safety measures in workplaces and the community - including how to survive a zombie apocalypse.
Facilities survey complete
The parent and staff survey from Yk1's facilities committee is complete, and gathered 399 comments and 96 pages of comments from respondents.
"I think the tremendous response to the online survey really speaks to the importance of this topic," said Heather Clarke, chair of the committee.
"Many of the comments highlighted the importance of high-quality teachers and programs, and the need to continue those programs."
The survey is part of a community outreach strategy by the committee to determine the best future use of Yk1's facilities, as well as to determine whether or not it's viable for the district to hand a school over to the GNWT, so it can meet a Supreme Court demand to provide facilities for students at Ecole Allain St-Cyr, who have been without a gymnasium, among other services.
Clarke said a summary of the responses would be made available to the public by the end of this week.
The next public meetings will be held on the evenings of May 28 and May 29, offering parents and other interested parties two chances to participate. Both meetings will be held at 7 p.m. at William McDonald Middle School.
More changes to audit committee
A month after an empty seat on the audit committee was filled, another member has stepped down due to a conflict on interest.
According to finance chair Terry Brookes, Louise Dundas Matthew had to step down from her spot on the committee due to work she has started with the Department of Education, Culture, and Employment. Because of this, Brookes put a motion to the board of trustees to approve Jeff Khaki, who previously worked as an accountant in Vancouver, B.C., as the newest member.
"He has been on audit committees in the past and came to our orientation night, and asked very good questions," Brookes said. "I think he will make an excellent addition to the board."
The audit on Yk1 will begin in July, with audit committee members getting the first look on the report sometime in August.
