MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MEETING No. 777
Special Meeting
Held via conference call
August 7, 2012
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KATIVIK SCHOOL BOARD
MEETING No.777
07-08-2012
RESOLUTION
ITEM
ANNEX
1
Quorum and opening of the meeting
2
Notice of meeting
3
Appointment of chairperson
4
Adoption of the agenda
5
Tutoring/home schooling programs
I
CLOSING OF THE MEETING
Conference Call
2
XC777-2012/2013 - August 7th, 2012
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KATIVIK SCHOOL BOARD
MEETING No.777
Minutes of a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Kativik School Board, for the
School year 2012-13, held on August 7, 2012, at 1:30 pm. By conference call.
PRESENT:
Johnny Kasudluak
Annie Alaku
Martin Scott
Thomassie Mangiok
Allen Brown
President
Vice-president
Executive Committee member
Executive Committee member
KRG Representative
Inukjuak
Salluit
Aupaluk
Ivujivik
Kuujjuuarapik
ALSO PRESENT:
Mary Mesher
Annie Popert
Sarah Airo
Louise B. Boissé
Commissioner
Director General
Assistant Director General
Associate Secretary General
Kuujjuaq
The following persons from time to time, and upon the invitation of the chairperson of the
meeting, attended or took part in the deliberations of the meeting:
Daniel Lafleur
Elias Moukannas
1
Assistant Director of Education Services
Coordinator of Steering Committee
QUORUM AND OPENING OF THE MEETING
With a quorum of the members of the Executive Committee of the Kativik School
Board being present at 1:50 pm on August 7, 2012. Mary Mesher says the
opening prayer.
2
NOTICE OF MEETING
The President ascertained that all members of the Executive Committee had
received notice of this meeting.
3
CHAIRPERSON
On a motion moved by
this meeting.
4
Annie Alaku, Johnny Kasudluak is appointed to chair
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Johnny Kasudluak reads the agenda. On a motion made by Johnny Kasudluak,
the agenda was adopted as attached to the minutes as Annex I.
5
TUTORING/HOME SCHOOLING PROGRAMS
Conference Call
3
XC777-2012/2013 - August 7th, 2012
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KATIVIK SCHOOL BOARD
Annie Popert refers to the meeting that was held last year with the parents. We
should refer to that meeting and see what derived from it. Annie Popert had a
recent conversation with Mylene.
Daniel refers to conversations that took place with MELS last year and also to
complaints received from the schools in Kuujjuaq.
For Grades 1 and 2, it was decided they would have 2 choices: home schooling
or Inuktitut program.
For Jaanimarik students, an immersion program in English was proposed. They
would keep their language at MELS levels by having tutors for which we would
pay the invoices. After 3 years this Program was to disappear and for that time
we would have the room rented at the Forum.
Sarah adds it was 5 hours after school that was given. Parents do not want this
anymore, it seems.
Elias says there is no problem with home schooling because children are outside
of our schools. The problem is with tutoring. It causes problems for the
administration and elsewhere but we must offer an alternative to first language
French or English through those 5 hours of tutoring as we do not offer it in our
schools. One condition exists: it has to be after school hours.
Sarah says a decision on this may affect other communities.
Annie Popert wants to know what message was given to parents at that time.
Elias explains that the child in home schooling has to be registered in our school
and the parents get $15,000. for this option. If someone has 2 children, he gets
$30,000. It is a lot like a private school. Parents are taxed on it. Kuujjuaq is
different from other communities.
Daniel explains that a private school in the South costs a great deal to parents. It
is different from what we have in Kuujjuaq. Many families have 2 working parents
and they have the money available to look at different options.
Martin concludes that they use their money to set up a different structure, with
separate room, separate teacher,etc. it starts looking a lot like a private school
rather than home schooling.
Johnny wants to know what the parameters for home schooling are and about
MELS’obligations.
Martin wants to know what MELS thinks of all of this.
Annie says in the South they get little money for home schooling. With the Crees
and Inuit, more money is injected because of the particular circumstances, said
Christy Brown from MELS.
Mylene wanted to know what the MELS had said. Mylene had understood home
schooling was a parental obligation.
Conference Call
4
XC777-2012/2013 - August 7th, 2012
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KATIVIK SCHOOL BOARD
Annie says exams and registration are done through the Board is what she
understood.
Elias says the Ministry is stuck because no one could graduate if an arrangement
is not arrived at because the first language is not offered in schools (French and
English first language classes).
Sarah explains Annie Grenier‘s position at the time: she did not want first
language French or English taught in our schools.
Daniel explains why second language students could not graduate in our
schools.
Elias explains first language is not offered in our schools: French or English are
taught as second languages. A student who would go back South could not
follow when he returns. That is why tutoring had been proposed in addition to the
English second language.
Martin wants to know how much we have to offer within the MELS parameters of
home schooling. We know that we have to provide evaluation to those students.
Allen wants to know what was offered in the past for those students that have to
go back to the South.
Johnny wonders if we will have another Iqaluit in Kuujjuaq. Will we lose some of
our powers and individuality if we give more rights to another group? If we give
this option, there is more incentive for non-Inuit to come North.
We will slowly lose power, fears Mary Mesher.
Elias says we must be ready. Mylene says the 5 hours is not enough. Is it a can
of worms as MELS has never looked at the maths program to evaluate it.
MELS may look at other subjects and we could be in trouble. MELS said we have
no choice. The Crees decided to fight this and not administer this aspect. The
fight is for elementary.
Daniel refers to chapter 17 of JBNQA and the possibility of having our programs.
Elias says it is about the level of math and science, essential knowledge. And
this can be tested. Then they may refuse to give the same diploma as in the
South.
Allen thinks Johnny’s concerns are valid and repercussions may be serious if too
many concessions are made. What was done in the past to ensure that children
are up to par?
Kuujjuaq parents want to enjoy their family time in Kuujjuaq and want children
ready to go back down South .They want the Board to do everything. They want
to have their cake and eat it too.
Conference Call
5
XC777-2012/2013 - August 7th, 2012
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KATIVIK SCHOOL BOARD
Mary finds that those parents abuse the system. When Mary comes South, she
has to follow the rules of the South. How can we challenge the government? We
must get our own legal opinion.
Inuit Parents in Kuujjuaq are envious because They would like to have the same.
Sarah wonders why we cannot provide the same for Inuit.
Annie Popert wants to know whether we participated in the creation of the
document on the home schooling program for Crees and Inuit or was it imposed
by the MELS.
Elias explains that the money is taken from the Board and given to the home
schooling.
Annie Popert says it is $270,000. Elias does not remember whether we
participated in the creation of the document.
Annie believes it was imposed on us. We may have to look at it. They now say:
“Well, you have the money.” She does not like this when we are not able to get
money for other programs.
Sarah says the money was given for the coordinator, her travel, the materials,etc
Annie says this money is not given to the Board per se.
Martin wants to know whether we still have the coordinator.
Daniel explains it is a choice of the parents. That money is not given down South.
Annie Popert says MELS cannot impose such things on us. She informs that a
lawyer will be hired. It may take a few weeks to arrive at a conclusion.
Mary suggests we could inform the parents it was a 3 year program and we do
not continue it.
We will get a legal opinion and let them know.
Annie says our understanding of home schooling is different from them. She was
surprised at the existence of the classroom for Grade 3 at the Forum.
Mr. Jodoin, a parent, informed her that there were students full-time all year
round.
It was after all a pilot project. Parents can hire someone to go to their home.
There will be great pressure from that group.
Everyone should answer when contacted that we only move as a group as one
voice and no individual response or messages should be given, says Johnny.
Conference Call
6
XC777-2012/2013 - August 7th, 2012
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KATIVIK SCHOOL BOARD
Mr. Jodoin spoke to Annie Popert and then called Johnny. We have to be careful,
says Johnny.
Martin was contacted by Mylene and mentioned the working group created. He
believes that mixed messages were given: 5 hours of tutoring or go to home
schooling. Then they wanted the room rented by KSB. Martin believes we
accepted to carry on with space rental and/or rental of a second room.
He wonders when the misunderstanding began. Johnny believes the executive
wanted to keep the classroom for them.
Annie went to the executive committee and asked about rental of a second
classroom. Annie never went back to him and never accepted.
Annie then discovered that the money was with the Board after she spoke with
Diane Doucet.
She met with Louise and Daniel and never accepted the rental of that second
classroom.
Mr. Jodoin called Johnny who said he would consult with his executive
committee.
Sarah says parents started promoting the North and boasting about their
classroom based on a promise that they said they received.
Martin believes there is a choice not to offer the home schooling, like the Crees
and go for a battle. If we offer one year of extension, we may create a precedent.
Johnny believes we must get that opinion and decide afterwards.
Martin says we must give an answer: 5 hour tutoring or homeschooling entirely
under their responsibility.
Annie Popert says we must stick to the principles when we respond. They are not
happy with our response but we have not heard yet. They will go to MELS. Annie
made it clear parents cannot make commitments on behalf of the Board.
Elias has not touched this file in 7 months and does not know about the latest
developments.
Johnny says this could be the catalyst especially if Makivik or KRG are trying to
bend the practices.
Daniel told Mr. Jodoin he was not a decision-maker and referred to Annie.
He is sure they will push very hard.
Martin wants to know if it was a surprise to see a full-time tutor hired. Daniel
explains they were given a room with tutoring but now they want the home
Conference Call
7
XC777-2012/2013 - August 7th, 2012
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KATIVIK SCHOOL BOARD
schooling re-arranged. It is a dangerous precedent. This exists only with the
French sector.
Elias wonders whether MELS agrees with this rental of a second room.
Martin wants to know how we got to this point where parents went to hire a
teacher on their own. It started with a couple when a parent (Eric) took the job.
His wife was a social worker.
Then all parents started to bring him their children.
We will need all minutes on this topic and all documentation possible to prepare
for the work of the working group, Martin points out.
Daniel explains the role of the coordinator, Dominique. Martin wants to know how
this group evolved. Could she be of help? She helps with the evaluations.
Martin wants to know whether Véronique Charette would be helpful on this file.
Daniel believes she is too busy.
Martin reiterates we need all the history of this file, to be very well documented.
Sarah wonders whether Daniel knew of the hiring of a teacher by the group of
parents.
Annie Popert wants all of the information gathered but we must start with the
legal opinion.
It will be refreshing to go through all of this in a fresh way from the perspective of
the Board being a public body with an Inuit clientele.
There was Mr. Juneau at the beginning of this discussion and now Mr. Jodoin
comes in with his requests. Let us see what our obligations are.
Daniel says Diane mentioned the creation of a non-profit entity. Elias has doubts
about this.
Mr. Jodoin called Diane and said she saw no problem, says Annie Popert. We
must not get into suggesting creation of an entity because parents will build on
that.
Annie Popert says we need someone who knows our particular legal rights.
Johnny reads certain sections of the JBNQA that must be read in a particular
context. Also it ends with: «if they so wish.”
Mary wants to know how the Crees are dealing with this. Annie Popert knows
they are ready to fight in Court .That is all she knows. Annie Popert will call
lawyer Robin Pratt as soon as she can.
Martin asks whether she wants to join the working group. She will think about it.
Conference Call
8
XC777-2012/2013 - August 7th, 2012
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KATIVIK SCHOOL BOARD
Mary has to leave now.
Johnny says we will respond to the parents when we have the legal opinion.
The name of Me Gilles Gagné is brought up as an alternative.
Martin asks Annie to get in touch with the Crees to discover what they do about
home schooling.
Annie Popert says she will get in touch with Mylene to re-confirm our position.
She will also set up a meeting with MELS to explain our position and will inform
Mylene that we will meet with MELS.
Martin re-iterates Mylene contacted him and he mentioned the creation of a
working group. Annie will be the contact representing the Board with the parents.
Martin thinks we should respond to parents as it would be dangerous not to
respond.
Annie Popert believes we should also inform executives of Makivik and KRG of
our position and of what we are doing.
Allan believes we should also inform the Francophone parents of what we are
doing as a school board.
CLOSING OF THE MEETING
The meeting is adjourned at 4:10 pm on August 7, 2012 since all of the agenda
items are completed.
Johnny Kasudluak
Preisent
Conference Call
Annie Popert
Director General
9
Louise B. Boissé
Associate Secretary General
XC777-2012/2013 - August 7th, 2012