Skip to content

Board and First Nation sign agreement

NEWS RELEASE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST ************************* Representatives from District School Board Ontario North East and the Kashechewan First Nation came together in Timmins today to sign an Education Service Agreement.

NEWS RELEASE

DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST

*************************
Representatives from District School Board Ontario North East and the Kashechewan First Nation came together in Timmins today to sign an Education Service Agreement.

Under the tuition agreement, the Board will provide educational support and services to twelve students in the community of Kapuskasing for the 2015-2016 school year.

The students are part of a group of Kashechewan residents evacuated from their homes in April, due to flooding along the Albany River.

“We still have homes in Kashechewan that have been contaminated with sewer back-up. They cannot be occupied. Until those homes are repaired or rebuilt, our children need to continue their education,” says Oliver Wesley, Director of Education with the Hishkoonikun Education Authority.

“Our parents want a better education for their children,” adds Leo Friday, Deputy Grand Chief of the Mushkegowuk Grand Council. “It is our belief that our students should stay and taste the education offered in our urban communities. We thank District School Board Ontario North East for allowing us to participate in their school system. We think this will be a good partnership.”

Under the agreement, eight Kashechewan students will attend Kapuskasing District High School beginning in September, while four will attend Diamond Jubilee Public School.

The agreement can be renewed on a year-by-year basis, if required.

No additional staff will need to be hired at the schools for the time being.

“I think this is an opportunity for those students to be well integrated into established classrooms,” says Director of Education, Linda Knight. “We have a lot of resources available in our schools. Our new high school students will be arriving at the beginning of our new iPad initiative, which is very exciting. We have the programs and the staff in place to meet their needs.”

“We’re very pleased to be able to assist the community in its recovery and we look forward to having these students in our schools,” says Board Chair Doug Shearer.

“By integrating into our school system,” adds First Nations Trustee Howard Archibald, “...the opportunity for these students to succeed will be great. They will be able to fulfill dreams for themselves, as well as their parents, and grandparents.”

The Board will be planning a special orientation session for the new students in the weeks to come.

*************************

(PHOTO ABOVE: Representatives from District School Board Ontario North East and the Kashechewan First Nation sign an Education Service Agreement.  Left to Right: Oliver Wesley (Director of Education, Kashechewan First Nation), Linda Knight (Director of Education, District School Board Ontario North East), and Leo Friday (Deputy Grand Chief, Mushkegowuk Council).

(PHOTO BELOW: Representatives from District School Board Ontario North East and the Kashechewan First Nation pose in front of an inukshuk at the headquarters of District School Board Ontario North East in Schumacher. Left to Right: Bob Brush (Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees, District School Board Ontario North East), Doug Shearer (Chair of the Board of Trustees, District School Board Ontario North East), Linda Knight (Director of Education, District School Board Ontario North East), Leo Friday (Deputy Grand Chief, Mushkegowuk Council), Oliver Wesley (Director of Education, Kashechewan First Nation), Pearl Fong-West (Superintendent of Business, District School Board Ontario North East) and Howard Archibald (First Nations Trustee, District School Board Ontario North East).