Concerns about the future of Paul William Kaeser High School’s long-running Phoenix program surfaced during a Fort Smith meeting last month.
The alternative education program is designed to help students who struggle in traditional classroom settings graduate through a more flexible approach.
Councillor Al Karasiuk said he had heard the territory’s Department of Education, Culture and Employment was unhappy with the Phoenix program’s structure and considering funding cuts.
Karasiuk argued the program has a proven track record of helping students who face difficulty in a traditional classroom complete their education and graduate.
He also criticized what he characterized as decision-making driven from Yellowknife without sufficient understanding of what works in smaller communities.
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The GNWT said it was conducting a routine review and had not yet made any decisions.
Karasiuk’s comments came as council celebrated the success of local students, noting that 21 graduates are expected this year, including some enrolled in the Phoenix program at PWK. Karasiuk called on former graduates to support the program.
“There’s rumours that the government, ECE, is not happy with the structure of the program, and they want to cut funding to it. It’s a program that’s been running for over 19 years, and I think we’re well over 200 grads that have graduated fully from there, or blended students from the high school,” he said in a council meeting last month.
“I think we need to start squeaking a little bit more. It’s a successful program. It meets the needs of lots of individuals in this community, and I think the government is very short-sighted, or the bureaucrats – not necessarily the government – in trying to shut it down again. It’s just another example of Yellowknife control, not knowing what works in a community.”
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Cabin Radio did not receive a response from Paul William Kaeser High School in time for publication.
An ECE spokesperson said the department is conducting a routine review of alternative high school programming across the NWT to ensure funding for all such programs is aligned with its handbook and framework.
The spokesperson said that work is not focused specifically on the Phoenix program. ECE said the work is intended to support consistent and appropriate application of existing requirements across programs.
“ECE is in the early stages of gathering information, including how enrolment and program details are collected and considered,” the department said in an email.
“As this work is still under way, it is too early to determine whether there will be any impacts to funding allocations for the Phoenix School Program or other alternative programs.”
