Taloyoak pushes Nunavut government to replace its 48-year-old school
MLA, local DEA says school poses health hazard to students
Netsilik MLA Emiliano Qirngnuq tabled a letter from Taloyoak’s district education authority March 3 that called on the Nunavut government to replace its school, which was built in 1972. (Photo by Emma Tranter)
Taloyoak’s local district education authority is pushing the Nunavut government to build a new school in the community.
Netsilik School was built in 1972 and completed in 1975. Its floors are carpeted, which is a health hazard for students, according to a Feb. 7 letter from the DEA to Emiliano Qirngnuq, who is the MLA of Netsilik, which includes Taloyoak.
Qirngnuq tabled the letter in the legislative assembly on Tuesday, March 3.
During question period on that same day, Qirngnuq also asked Education Minister David Joanasie for an update on the department’s plans for the school.
“I have asked this question more than once longer than a year. Can the minister clarify what the status is of his department’s planning process related to the overcrowding issues at the Netsilik School in Taloyoak?” Qirngnuq said.
The letter from the DEA states the number of students is supposed to be 25 per teacher, but some classes have 35 students, making for overcrowded classrooms.
“There is not enough storage space for all the supplies that the school needs for the year,” the letter reads.
Joanasie said the school is currently at 91 per cent capacity, according to the department’s numbers from 2018-2019.
The letter also states that the school has had lock-downs because of incidents involving high school students.
“The RCMP had to be called to de-escalate the incidents and this has an impact on primary students,” the letter states.
Qirngnuq noted the school is 48 years old and that concerns have been raised that the state of the school might be hazardous to the health of the students.
“Will the minister commit to looking into the situation and ensuring that the conditions at the Taloyoak school are not hazardous to the health of the children and staff?” Qirngnuq asked.
Joanasie said the department does get requests from schools to have issues addressed immediately.
“I’ll have my staff look into this, but at the same time, if the DEA and/or the administration in Taloyoak open up the channels and lines of communication with the regional school operations and ensure that any health or safety concerns are taken into account at the earliest possible time,” Joanasie said.
As part of its capital planning process, the Department of Education works with local DEAs to determine what is needed for schools across the territory. Joanasie said there is currently a preplanning budget to have an addition built on the school in Taloyoak, but not a completely new school.
Joanasie also acknowledged that he had heard from the Taloyoak DEA about their concerns.
“I have gotten a verbal indication from the DEA that they would rather like a brand-new school versus having an addition,” Joanasie said.
Joanasie added that his department has to take into account the “vast capital needs” across the territory.
“Like I said, looking at the condition of the school, it might be better just to have a renovation and/or addition, similar to what we are going through with the Sakku School in Coral Harbour right now. We look at our existing resources and try to make the best use of them.”
Oh geez, anything for the east but not the Kitikmeot, my 5 cents input. I have worked in schools before and I see this as a problem.
It would make more sense that the current school be kept and renovated and used as the elementary school. After all it was originally built as an elementary school. That way the elementary population could be spread out into smaller class sizes. The community needs a high school which can house students from grade 7-12 and has the facilities for secondary programs such as the various CTS strands, art, music, physical education and technology programs, etc…. Taloyoak is over-due for a high school.
Since Eva Ariark was the Premier and education minister we were on the radar for some kind of new school. Since the two schools burn down in nunavut, we been in the back burner. Our gymnasium is the size what is used in prisons and mines. Our neighbors in Kitikmeot have gaint gyms. We have been fighting for our youth to get a seperate high school. The addition that was added have way to small rooms. Overcrowding young adolescents is not good. Thank you Emiliano our MLA for standing up for us.
Taloyoak is in need of a brand new school. The planning was starting to be done until other communities in Nunavut had their school burned. I’m saddened to see and read that what is being talked about is an addition and renovation to the school. The school has carpets almost all around the whole floor and that makes it very disgusting, even some people have allergic reactions or feel ill after being in that school.
There’s also a lot of overcrowding in classrooms.
I just hope the community of Taloyoak is able to get a brand new school they deserve. It has been too long that the community itself is waiting, waiting and waiting.
Thankful to have an MLA of Netsilik to address this issue for Taloyoakmiut.