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Around Iqaluit
May
7, 2004
New member joins IDEA
The Iqaluit District Education Authority almost reached full membership at
its May 3 meeting, with one member joining the group, and another taking leave
for the summer.
Christa Kunuk, 31, became the youngest sitting member on the IDEA, after beating
Mike Courtney and Allen Hayward for the position vacated by Caroline Anawak,
who moved to Ottawa last month.
Kunuk, hand-picked late last month by the remaining members of the IDEA, will
serve a two-year term before the next elections in fall, 2006.
"I want to make sure the rights of Inuit children are met," Kunuk
said after her swearing-in.
The board will remain one member short, as Aseena Allurut took leave for the
summer, citing an overcharged schedule.
May
7, 2004
IDEA plans town hall meeting on education
The board overseeing schools in Iqaluit is brainstorming about topics to discuss
at a community meeting, expected before the end of the school year.
The decision to hold a public forum on topics like school suspensions and drop-out
rates surfaced when members of the IDEA were debating how they could deal with
troubled students, other than kicking them out of school.
At their May 3 meeting, members repeatedly focused on how Iqaluit lacks an
alternative school for students who don't adapt to the regular school format.
"I know by the demographics on the street, we're losing those kids,"
IDEA member Katherine Trumper said of suspended students. "There's no alternative
for them, and there's no door between the schoolhouse and the courthouse."
IDEA member Kathy Smith suggested the board consider how Iqaluit used to have
a drop-in centre with teachers in the Brown building for troubled students years
ago, though she later added the former location was not ideal.
IDEA member Sean Maloney is drafting a list of topics for the coming meeting.
May
7, 2004
IDEA seeks missing policy on school excursions
The IDEA can't find the policy on school outings that it hopes to update before
summer.
Katherine Trumper said she and other members need to localize the Iqaluit's
excursion policy used by Qikiqtani Schools Operations, the body overseeing all
schools in the Baffin region.
At the IDEA's May 3 meeting, Trumper compared the QSO policy with the Toronto
District School Board's policy, suggesting that the local approach to approving
excursions lacked educational guidelines and planning requirements.
"It's got to have been written by risk-managers because it's just written
to avoid a lawsuit," Trumper said, adding that the IDEA needed to add its
own criteria for school outings.
Member Kathy Smith said a policy existed for Iqaluit schools, but couldn't
be found.
May
7, 2004
IDEA debates lengthy meetings
With a nod to the irony of the debate, IDEA members recently put time aside
to search for ways to quicken the pace of their notoriously long meetings.
The majority of members supported a new set of guidelines to keep meetings
brief, instead of dragging late into the evening.
"I don't want to see anyone speaking to an issue four, five times,"
said member Sean Maloney. "It's out of line. I can't live with it."
Members Kathy Smith and Tim Neily voted against the guidelines, arguing that
members should aim to be more efficient without time limitations being enforced.
May
7, 2004
Iqaluit school bus contract remains in flux
IDEA members flatly rejected calls from officials at Qikiqtani Schools Operations
to approve school bus contracts that the QSO has negotiated for Iqaluit.
Andrew Tagak Sr., chair of the IDEA, announced at the May 3 meeting he will
turn down such requests, after members reassured him that such a move wouldn't
leave students stranded.
IDEA member Sean Maloney said the QSO request was aimed at saddling the board
with contracts that are expensive and rife with administration problems.
"We're not signing anything," Maloney said. "It's their baby."
QSO oversees all schools in the Baffin region.
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