School Division Created In Middle Of School Year

School Division Created In Middle Of School Year

Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 15:07

 

 

A new school division has been established in the Battlefords area, run by the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs.

 

The BATC had earlier split from the North West Nations Education Council.

 

Yesterday, the BATC introduced its newly-hired director of education — Stuart Keys.

 

Keys was formerly a director of education in Lloydminster, and has also been a principal in Aboriginal schools.

 

BATC Chiefs Representative Sheldon Wuttunee says Keys’ experience was a major factor.

 

He says the chiefs wanted someone familiar with and respectful of Aboriginal culture.

 

Wuttunee admits it’s a bit awkward to start up a new school division in the middle of the school year — but he says the tribal council had no choice, because that’s when it received its funding from Indian Affairs.

 

The school division formally begins its work March 15th, when the newly-appointed board meets for the first time.