A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 19, 1994 School row comes to head HAZELTON — TRUSTEES for Schoo! District 88 were to meet last night to decide what to da about an occupation of the old Hazelton high school. Last Wednesday a group led by the Gitksan-Wet’suwet’en Educa- tion Society (GWES) broke into the bullding, empty for two years, and set up a ‘‘First Nations High School.” The occupation was supported by the Gitanmaax band, which claims the land. Despite GWES’s forced entry, the school district did not im- mediately call for charges against the society or any individuals. However, legal action has not yet been ruled out Trustecs scheduled a special meeting for last night to decide how io deal with the situation. The occupation follows lengthy disputes between the education society and the school district, The grievances include failed ailempts to negotiate a Local Ed- ucation Agreement and GWES’s allegations the school system does not provide adequate educa- tion for native students. “T felt as though the Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en were like a bee Accusations fly.on native education HAZELTON — IN ORDER to have a measure of control over the education of local native stu- dents, the Gitkean-Wet’suwet’en Education Society proposed a Lo- cal Education Agreement to the Terrace school board. According to GWES, attempts to negotiate the LEA with the Terrace board since November 1992 have failed, even though the Bums Lake District agrecd to similar terms in November of 1993. After the Terrace school board cut off negotiations at the end of November, McRae was angry. . She accused the school board of not being accountable in any way for the money it receives ($7,200 per student) for Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en students. However, school, any seer jalrca Wey el Se EE cae aig was defining’ ns We -have audited - financial statements, and we have an elected board: of trustees who oversee the how the moncty is spent,” he pointed out. McRae also charged the school district of not living up to its responsibilities to provide ade- quate education for Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en students. Superintendent Frank Hamilton disagrees. “The top three students...in provinciel English examinations this year were all mative stu- dents,’? he said. ‘‘I find that remark total inappropriate in light of the energies of all the teachers and parents and elders have pul into supporting the students.’” Last week, GWES started its First Nations High School pro- gram with 20 students who had dropped out or been suspended from school or who needed up- grading. More than half the 20 students are from the Hazelton Secondary School. Testing GWES did for all stu- dents enrolled its new school showed those who had dropped out or been suspended from Hazelton Secondary were at the elementary level, McRae said. The high school is seen as the first step toward an independent school authority for the Gitksan Wet’suwet’en territories. Plans include native culture and language programs, that had been swatted aside,’’ GWES administrator Marj McRae said, “However, a bee that has been swatied aside sometimes comes back and stings his attacker. School District 88 is in for a big sting If they belleve they can swat aside our people,’’ The board tumed down a recent request by GWES to use the school despite the society indicat. ing it was prepared to maintain and insure the building while oc- cupying it. people just taking the law into their own hands. “T agree it isn’t right, but there is a lot of stuff to consider,’’ she said. The dispute wilh the school board and the Gilanmaax band over ownership of the old high schoo! site also remains un- resolved. , The land on which the building sits was sold to the school board in the 1950s as a site for the first: amalgamated. school in the pro- vince where native and white stu- “But it’s too expensive. No- body can afford it,’ Spooner Said, Operating costs for the building even while {t remained un- occupied amount to as much as $35,000 a year, said Barry Pletsdorff, secretary-ireasurer for the schoo! district. Asked whether the school board would continue to pay for those costs now that GWES accnupies the building, Spooner said no de- cision has yet been reached. ‘*That’s an option we're look- okeena way down the list REPLACEMENT OF _ the aging Skeena Jr. Secondary School isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. The education ministry has assigned the proposed $20 mil- lion project only a medium priority. The school board had re- quested $120,000 this year to Start planning the construction and pave ita high priority. ing at,’’ she said. “We are not But the “School District 88 is in for a big sting if they believe authorized to pay heat for a build- ing our students are not using.”’ medium-priority designation Means - we shouldn’t hold our breaih, says district secretary-treasurer ; 33 they can swat aside our people. ssremeasasansesssine MOCRAB Spooner’s major concerns are the safety of GWES students now The occupation gives GWES dents attended school together. using the building and possible much needed classroom space for The band maintains once the liability the board may have. its First Nations High School, its territorial management class and its classroom aid program. “It’s a win-win situation,’’ said Gary Patsey, chief councillor for Gitanmaax, which supports the occupation. Others disagree. “‘T’ye had lots of calls critical of the school board for not going down there and making them get out,’’ said Hazeltons school trustee Mary Spooner. “They say it’s anarchy — CHRISTIANS PRAY FOR land ceased to be used for educa- tional purposes, It should have teveried back to the natives. The school board maintains that it has a cleat title io the land with no strings attached, “*But ownership is not the issue here,”’ Patsey said on Wednes- day. ‘We have got to meet the needs of aboriginal students.’” Trustee Spooner said the school board negotiated a year an a half ago to give the building to GWES if it would take over all expenses. _ “We built the new high school on the grounds that building wasn't fit for kids,’’ Spooner said. “‘Now we wonder what re- sponsibility do we have? “The simplistic view is just to let them stay there. We're not using it anyway, but it could be we have serious responsibilities.”’ Superintendent Frank Hamilton confirmed the school will eventually be demolished and a new elementary school built on the site. . Barry Piersdorf£ “They've got a billion dol- lars worth of high priority projects and they say they’re going to have nowhere near that amount in the capital en- velope,”’ he explained. However, construction of a new elementary school on the bench was given high priority. “If approved, the district will spend up to $120,000 on land acquisition and planning this year. NEED To KNOW ~ SOMETHING ABOLIT YOUR NEW cq, © GOMMUNITY? “ae ign, Phone Elaine 635-3018 _Phione Diana 638-8576: Phone Gillan 638-3044 Our hostess will bring gifts and greelings, along with helpful +” community information. . Sugar ‘N’ Lace Lunch Hour e UNITY A WEEK OF Prayer for Christian Unity takes place Jan 23-30 this year and Terrace churches will hold wor- ship services each day. The theme is ‘The Household of God — One Heart, One Spirit.’’ On the two Sundays, Jan. 23 and 30, evening services will be held at 7 p.m. Noon-hour services will be held Monday through Saturday, 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Those who wlah can bring their lunches. Each service will be conducted in the worship style of the hasting con- gregation. The speaker will be a pastor from another church. . The local. planning commitice hopes that these services will result in. a stronger sense of Christian unity and a greater appreciation of different Wedding Cakes & Accessories Invites Brides of 1994 to : bin ** SAVE ** | |] Basin) OS 15% to 50% \ Wedding ‘Decorations * Bridal Accessories “ Wedding Invitations a Shop Now ‘And Save! . Phone 635-2282 for Appointment * Sale Ends Jan 31/94. * Not to be Combined With Any Other Offer. Thurs. Jan. 20 come with us to Greece Thurs. Feb. 3 we will visit Great Honeymoons Brought To You By: TRAVEL TERRACE INN +) ‘ur ita en iy Boe | worship styfes and traditions. 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