At its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, the Rainy River District School Board will vote on a partnership agreement with the United Native Friendship Centre to provide a new secondary school program here.
“The program is geared toward young adults that would not go to the regular program at the Fort Frances High School or the Fort Frances High School Alternative Program,” the board’s First Nations Advisory Committee wrote in its report.
“The program would be under the direct supervision of the principal of Fort Frances High School,” the committee noted. “There is no identification process for this program and individuals can be any clients of the United Native Friendship Centre.”
The program is part of an initiative by the Ministry of Education to fund five native friendship centres throughout the province to partner with their local school boards.
The ministry is to provide $80,000 in funding for the program. The UNFC will provide a counsellor, the location, and will help develop the program while the local public school board will provide the teacher and curriculum material.
Cultural activities also will be integrated into the curriculum.
The advisory committee expressed hope the program would attract 10-12 students in the first year, and recommended the board approve the agreement.
Also in its report to the board, the advisory committee found a significant drop in the number of First Nation students over the course of the first semester of the 2003-04 school year.
“There was a total of 194 First Nation students enrolled in September, 2003 and 148 students remained by the conclusion of Semester 1,” the report read, meaning a loss of 46 students.
“Forty students transferred to other geographic locations due to family situations, attendance problems, and/or behavioural problems,” the report added.
“The statistics indicated a high dropout rate in Grades 9 and 10. Comparison of statistics to previous semesters indicate an overall decrease in retention of students and credits received by First Nation students,” it noted.
The report goes on to say the information collected will be used to develop a plan to help First Nation students succeed academically.
“Two key areas of concern are lack of literacy skills and the need for more community support which may increase attendance,” the committee noted.
“One method of providing such support would be to provide a spare period for Grade 9 students to complete homework and receive help during the school day.”
Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, the board will:
•hear a presentation on the Young Women’s Conference that took place April 16-18 at Quetico Centre;
•hear a report from the consolidated school council (J.W. Walker, Alexander MacKenzie, and Alberton Central) on plans for landscaping at the renovated school, and the official opening ceremony; and
•vote on a tender for janitorial services for the Fort Frances Alternative Education building to Billie Jo Glover for $500/month from April 1, 2004 to Aug. 31, 2005.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
