Parent committee suggested for Aqsarniit School by Iqaluit DEA

Some Iqaluit parents say they need a bigger voice in their children's education after learning that a dedicated phys-ed teacher position will be removed from Aqsarniit Middle School next year.

At the Iqaluit District Education Authority's annual community consultation held in Nakasuk School on Monday, most of the parents in attendance had come to discuss the rumoured cut.

"I believe that physical education in the school system is very important and I don't agree with the principal just taking it away without notice," said Micheline Kilabuk-Côté.

"Maybe the administration should always have to consult with parent committees before they were allowed to make changes," said Terri Byrne, another parent.

The IDEA made it clear that they approve the number of teachers allocated to each school based on a student-educator ratio, but teacher assignments in the school are outside their jurisdiction. However, they encouraged parents to organize into parent committees.

Right now, the only two schools under the authority of the IDEA to have organized parent committees are Joamie and Nakasuk schools, though they didn't come easy. The IDEA initially rebuffed the efforts of Nakasuk parents to form the committee, relenting later on. 

"In my time on the IDEA, the parent committees have played an important role in terms of advocacy," said IDEA Chair Gwen Healey.

"It's with these dedicated parent groups that things happen in our schools."