By Jill Sperling

La Loche prepares to send students back to school

Feb 12, 2016 | 11:22 AM

The plan is still somewhat uncertain for when students will make their return to school in La Loche.

As the small northern town continues their healing process, school administration, the Northern Lights School Division, and the Ministry of Education are formulating a plan for the reopening of La Loche Community School.

The school held a meeting for parents of students on Feb. 4, and a student meeting the following day.

According to the meeting notes, posted on the school’s Facebook page, the parents wanted to see students return to school as soon as possible. At the meeting, Feb. 23 was suggested as the return date for Ducharme building students (Kindergarten to Grade 6), and Mar. 1 for Dene Building students (Grades 7 to 12).

Many older students objected to such a late start date, however, conceded some students may have a more difficult time returning than others.

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Shortly after the shooting, the town’s mayor, Kevin Janvier, had been one of the voices calling for the demolition and rebuild of the school.

He has since changed his stance.

“Everybody was shocked in La Loche. It was still fresh when I made that announcement,” Janvier said.

“It’s really important the education remains the top priority and we can’t be stalling.”

According to Saskatchewan’s Deputy Education Minister, Julie MacRae, ministry staff have been in the community since Jan. 25, working closely with the board and senior management of the Northern Lights School Division.

MacRae said she was receiving daily updates from her staff.

“The indications I have are that everything is progressing relatively smoothly,” MacRae said.

MacRae said counselling services were being provided by a number of agencies.

“Our ministry has been supporting the provision of counselling services,” MacRae said. “Other school divisions around the province have also lent some personnel to assist with that.

“There are a number of ministries across government who’ve also been involved in providing counselling support and trauma response for both students and grown-ups,” she added.

The ministry has also been working to ensure students’ high school credits would not be affected negatively by the lengthy break from classes.

Whether that means a longer semester is up to the local decision makers and the school board.

According to MacRae, the ultimate decision about when it is appropriate for students to re-enter the school building is up to school administration and the school division.

Assistant Principal, Greg Hatch, confirmed to paNOW, school staff will return Feb. 22. He said the plan for students would be determined at that point.

There have been talks that classes could resume as early as Feb. 22, a date which Desnethe-Missinipi-Churchill River MP, Georgina Jolibois, expressed discomfort with.

 “Even therapists and professionals are saying the PTSD won’t take effect until about six weeks after the incident,” Jolibois said. “Feb. 22 is a month after the incident, and to send the kids, and the staff and people back into the scene where it had occurred is a little too soon. I am not too comfortable with that.”

Jolibois felt it would be appropriate to send elementary students back to the Ducharme Building.

She said she knew there were discussions taking place around security, but did not know what those talks entailed.

Garda Security in Saskatoon told paNOW they are hiring security for the school in La Loche. The company was unable to comment on how many security guards would be hired.

The Northern Lights School Division could not be reached for comment.

On Jan. 22 the community was rocked by a shooting at the Dene High School that killed teacher, Adam Wood, 35, and teacher’s aide, Marie Janvier, 21.

Prior to the school shooting, teenage brothers Drayden and Dayne Fontaine were killed in a home in the community.

-with files from CKOM

jsperling@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jnsperling