Classes resume in Kugaaruk
Hamlet makes education first priority following fire to only school
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Monday, March 13, 2017
KUGAARUK /PELLY BAY
Preschool and kindergarten students in Kugaaruk were back in class on March 6, following an overnight fire that left the community's only school, Kugaardjuk Ilihakvik, in ruins on March 1.
The stone entryway of Kugaardjuk Ilihakvik in Kugaaruk has been left standing following a fire that destroyed the building. The remaining piece will be used in the construction of a new school. - photo courtesy of John Ivey |
High school students are expected to hit the books this week, and a shipment of supplies -including notebooks, pencils, crayons and whiteboards -has already been received.
A breakfast program that had been feeding as many as 60 to 80 students in the hamlet each day has also restarted for the preschool and kindergarten students, who have taken up residence at the hamlet wellness centre.
The school is making plans to deliver its hot lunch program, which principal Jerry Maciuk said greatly contributes to school attendance rates.
"We have one of the best attendance of all schools in Nunavut in the Kitikmeot," Maciuk said March 9.
He said the school was a warm and friendly place for students.
"We want to keep it like this."
Maciuk said getting Grade 12 students back in class is a priority as they are preparing for graduation. The school is expecting to see eight or nine graduates this year, which is more than usual.
"We calculated and the high school students only lost 10 instructional hours, which could be easily made up," he said.
Students in all grades will return to class in the coming weeks, with Grades 1 to 6 studying at the church, Grades 7 to 9 in the hamlet gymnasium and Grades 10 to 12 in various locations throughout the community.
Maciuk said the money and manpower is all in place to keep things going, but logistics will continue to be a challenge as the school looks to carry on classes in so many locations.
"It's just a week ago, there are a lot of things happening all at once," said hamlet senior administrative officer John Ivey on March 8.
The remains of the school were demolished on March 7 and a spot has been identified at the metal dump to hold the debris, said Ivey. There is security at the school site around the clock.
"It's dangerous. It's all knocked down but people could still get hurt," he said.
The stone entrance to the building was saved, and will be used in the construction of a new building.
"It's not going to be easy, but the big thing is to get through to the summer," at which point the hamlet will receive five or six modular units.
The hamlet is also looking to fast track its own new hamlet complex that is being built in the community, so the existing hamlet building can become a temporary school in the fall.
"Because it will take three years to get a school built, maybe more."
Education assistant deputy minister John MacDonald visited the hamlet March 2 and 3 with representatives from Community and Government Services and Health.
"I was overwhelmed by the strength of the community," MacDonald said. "Everybody pulled together."
He said it was clear that getting the kids back in school was a high priority.
"People were willing to do whatever it took. The mayor has given up his office so that school administration would have an office to work from. It's an example of what the community is willing to do to rally behind its school."
The hamlet recreation co-ordinator moved his office to the arena to make additional space at the hamlet. But the transition will no doubt be a challenge, he said.
"We tried to be up front with people, to give them the short-, medium- and long-term plan. The reality is that our students and our teachers will not be in an ideal circumstance for the remainder of the school year."
Visiting officials had a series of meetings in the community including a public meeting that packed the church hall.
School staff have been identifying losses from the fire to include in the insurance claim, but also so the department
can replace materials.
Tables have been shipped to the hamlet, along with laptops for the teachers.
"Whether it's paper or pencils or photocopiers, we're going to give them what they need to carry on with the work," said MacDonald.
But everything can't be sent at once.
"We don't want to send things they don't need now or that they don't have the space for."
There are a limited number of flights to the hamlet and MacDonald said the department is trying to be cognizant of the fact that those planes also bring goods like groceries and mail.
"It's a fine balance," he said.
His department and the community are requesting that donations be channeled through the local district education authority rather than through private fundraising efforts.
"Kugaardjuq School is a public institution and all expenses related to rebuilding the facility, as well as the replacement of resources and supplies, are the responsibility of the territorial government," stated a March 8 release. "Unfortunately, in-kind donations cannot be accepted due to lack of storage space."
Netsilik MLA Emiliano Qirngnuq, who visited the community March 2 and 3, recognized members of the Kugaaruk fire department by name at the legislative assembly on March 7.
"Despite the pain that the community is presently enduring, people are united. I want to express my appreciation to everyone in the community who is contributing to the effort," he said.
Education Minister Paul Quassa is expected to visit the hamlet on March 20.
MacDonald said the government has learned from the 2015 fire that destroyed Peter Pitseolak School in Cape Dorset.
"We've dealt with this in a relatively recent time frame," he said. "That's hastened the ability to respond and to co-ordinate efforts."
A 13 year old has been charged in the wake of the fire.
