INUVIK
There are a lot of short- and long-term challenges coming with the introduction of junior kindergarten to East Three School next fall, but educators think at least the first year should be manageable.

Chris Gilmour, acting superintendent of the Beaufort Delta Education Council, said East Three School will be able to handle the transition to junior kindergarten next year smoothly. However, there is less certainty about long-term plans. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

"We're positioned as well as we possibly can (be) for this transition next year," said Chris Gilmour, acting superintendent of the Beaufort Delta Education Council, at a public meeting in Inuvik Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Approximately 60 students are expected to enter East Three School in the first year of junior kindergarten. 

For Principal Deborah Reid, that brings up a lot of logistical questions, especially because there hasn't been a lot of information coming from the GNWT about the program until recently.

"At this point a lot of the discussions that we've had have been speculative," she said. "We really need to know what these little children are like."

Many teachers at the school are not even trained to work with primary-aged stu dents, she said, making some of them nervous about handling three- and four-year-olds in the school.

"Are they diaper trained, are they toilet trained?" Reid asked.

With the introduction of about 60 students, that means there will be around 120 children four years old or younger in the school.

"One hundred and twenty little ones in this building," said Reid. "That's a lot for us to try to get our head around for staffing. We know there's a huge development difference between a three-year-old and a four-year-old, and a fouryear-old and a five-year-old."

How independent they are, if they can even dress themselves, the best course of washroom use, exits, entrances and more remain open questions staff will have to answer.

Additionally, the stress could impact the rest of the school. Reid floated the possibility of moving Grade 6 to the secondary school side to make room.

Principal hopes for smooth transition

It's of top importance to Reid to make sure there are enough adults present with the young students that the situation is safe, meaning staff could be taken away from older students.

"Obviously it's a challenge, but if we can think of these things ahead of time, we can mitigate those challenges and make it a smooth transition," she said.

Gilmour reiterated that safety is the primary concern of BDEC.

"I want to make sure the message is clear about that," he said. "Ahead of every single thing that every teacher does, every administrator, every employee at BDEC, our number one concern for the kids is safety. That's not going to be compromised. That's not even a consideration."

Lesa Semmler, chair of the Inuvik District Education Authority, said that although the funding formula makes it look like East Three is getting more than before to accom modate the new program, the roughly $500,000 increase next year is based on enrollment.

"They changed all the funding to make it look like we're getting more, but at the end of the day we're actually getting less," said Semmler.

She praised the work of BDEC in the last several years to build a surplus, but said it was likely on its way out, having to now deal with junior kindergarten.

"That surplus will be gone," she said.

Semmler said she wants community input on any changes that have to be made at East Three to accommodate junior kindergarten.

About two dozen people attended the public meeting. Neither Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses or Twin Lakes MLA Robert McLeod were present to address concerns, though both were invited.