French school commission postpones special meeting until later date

École des Trois-Soleils in Iqaluit. Nunavut’s francophone school board has postponed a special meeting originally scheduled for March 25. They say will announce a new date as soon as possible. (FILE PHOTO)

Nunavut’s francophone school board, the Commission scolaire francophone du Nunavut, or CSFN, has postponed a special general meeting they had scheduled for March 25, the CSFN said March 19 in a news release.

The postponement is due to the recent resignation of one commissioner, Seth Reinhart, and the expected absence of two other commissioners who will not be available for medical and personal reasons, the commission said.

Reinhart, a member of the CFSN for the past six years, resigned his seat as of March 8.

“We wish him the best of luck in all his undertakings,” the commission said.

The CSFN had called the meeting to deal with a litany of complaints from another group called the Association des parents francophones du Nunavut, or APFN.

Some parent members of the APFN had circulated a petition this past January that demanded all members of the CSFN resign.

The CSFN now says it will announce a new date for the special meeting as soon as possible.

In their press release, the commission said they have asked the school’s senior management to establish, as soon as possible, a committee of parents to “facilitate smooth and transparent communication.”

“We will work in partnership with any parent rights-holder or any member of our community whose aim is to contribute positively to the school community in Nunavut,” the commission said.

In the meantime, they’re seeking a candidate to fill the recently vacated spot on the commission until the position expires in October 2015.

The Commission said anyone interested should send a copy of their resumé along with a cover letter to the following email address: informations@csfn.ca or fax it to: 867-975-2046.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday, April 7 at 5 p.m.

Last month, the CSFN and parent Doug Garson filed a lawsuit against the Government of Nunavut, alleging the GN is breaching francophone education rights protected by Section 23 of the Charter.

“It is imperative that the CSFN receive adequate funding (especially for the hiring of additional staff) and appropriate infrastructure (including a gymnasium, science lab, a sufficient number of classrooms, and a childcare centre) to provide quality French first-language education in Nunavut, from kindergarten to Grade 12,” the commission said in its news release.