Presented without further comment from the public record, Part 3

[Name of town withheld] (March 6, 2007) – After working with the [Name of town withheld] Education District #1 (YK1) and [Name of town withheld] Catholic Schools (YCS), Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Minister, Charles Dent, has provided direction regarding accommodation of students during the phased École St. Joseph School renovations. The renovations are scheduled to start during the 2007-2008 school year.

"Our first priority is to ensure northern students have the space and support they need to succeed," said Minister Dent.

ECE is planning to fund YK1 and YCS based on the relative classroom space requirement for 2007-2008. This change in funding is designed to encourage more efficient use of the existing space.

Minister Dent wrote to the Chair of the YK1 board indicating it is his hope that YK1 will lease a school to YCS in order to provide space for students displaced by the École St. Joseph School renovations.

Currently the school utilization rates are 70.5% at YK1 and 96.6% at YCS. The transfer of one school would result in approximately an 80% facility utilization rate for both districts. This will bring both school districts under the 85% recommended maximum occupancy.

Minister Dent’s letter to YK1, a briefing note on the issue and a table indicating [Name of town withheld] school utilization can be found at:
http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/Divisions/ECE_News/indexNews.htm.

For more information, contact:
[Name and contact information withheld]