The direction of education for Northern Lights School Division is clarifying what’s happening with La Loche Community School in the wake of last month’s mass shooting.
Over the past few weeks since a shooter entered the Dene Building of the La Loche Community School, there’s been debate over whether the high school (Dene Building) will ever reopen.
Director of Education Ken Ladouceur is putting that to rest. In a letter issued late Friday morning, he wrote “The La Loche community is moving forward and is looking at reopening the school and returning to learning for all students in La Loche in the near future.”
The letter gave a more distinct timeline and plan for both elementary school and high school students.
Teachers will return to school on Feb. 22 after the winter break, with elementary classes expected to begin shortly after that.
For the high school, things are a bit more complex. Term 2 will be restarted, which has created curriculum and timetable issues.
Ladouceur acknowledges the loss of instructional time, and said the division is looking at many options to make sure they can ensure “high quality learning for students when they return.”
Parent and student meeting notes reveal attitudes towards class resumption
There have been numerous meetings between NLSD, local organizations, parents, and students in La Loche to decide the best way to move forward.
Notes from those meetings that have been posted to La Loche Community School’s Facebook page share some deeper insight into how students, parents and staff are feeling.
The meeting notes from Feb. 4 and 5 both show that parents and students agree that when it comes to returning to school, “the sooner the better.”
The notes also state many students are concerned about getting their credits straightened out, especially those who are in Grade 12.
Student meetings were separate from the parent meetings, and one discrepancy showed up between the two groups. Parents had come to a general consensus to have the “Lord’s Prayer” said daily at school, but many students disagreed, saying “it should be done at the church not at the school.”
Student return dates had been put forward as well, suggesting elementary students go back on Feb. 23, and high school students possibly return on March 1.
There is clearly still much to be discussed when it comes to the Dene Building where the shooting took place.
“The general consensus of parents was that they would be willing to let their students return to the Dene Building if there are renovations and security measures put in place,” the notes state.
Some students would be comfortable in the Dene Building, but others would rather be in the Ducharme building.
When the parents spoke about options, they addressed the idea that the Dene Building has positive memories as well and that the community should not hate the building.
The notes also stated that parents can tour the Dene Building on Jan. 22.