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.