Alfred Moses

When we look at the utilization rates, we look at utilization rates as they pertain to communities, so the utilization rate here in Yellowknife isn't as high as it is by the school. Obviously, we look at school sharing. We are currently in discussions with YCS now, how we deal with that utilization rate and the high numbers that they are getting. We have schools across NWT that also are at certain levels that we need to have those discussions. However, the utilization rates haven't reached that peak within the Yellowknife schools, but we are in discussions with YCS on how we come up with...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I mentioned, we are mandated to run early childhood programs, according to this bill and this specific program. Those discussions would have to be made afterwards, but, as I said, this government is mandated, it is a priority of the 18th Legislative Assembly to provide early childhood programs throughout the Northwest Territories, and I do believe Members, with the passion that they have, understand the value of some of these programs going in our communities and appreciate the support from the general comments that were made around the room earlier. At the end of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, currently we have department staff that are working with the education authorities and the school staff to look at utilization rates, and to ensure that spaces that were developed when the school was made were actually being used for instructional time, and what other spaces aren't for instructional time. We are going through that review right now with schools in Yellowknife, currently. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we look at implementing the 12 to 1 ratio right now on junior kindergarten, that is increasing the amount of dollars that are already going to the schools at, I believe, about $1.5 million. The formula funding we will have to take back to the department and look at whether it is going to impact how we fund the, sorry, that is $1.8 million for the upcoming school year, and those numbers we can actually start to get as we start seeing enrollment rates coming through. We will definitely take it back to the departments and look at those. Thank you.

Thank you. Members did receive the most up-to-date, most current funding formulae that we have for how we fund our schools. We can take a look at the ones that pertain to junior kindergarten, and then look at adjusting those. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have the details. I will go to my assistant deputy minister, please. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Member for bringing forward the proposed amendments. I also believe that a detailed thorough evaluation of the STIP pilot project is critical to ensuring it is successful in achieving our goals of improved students outcomes by providing teachers with time to focus on developing their instructional practices. This is why I publicly committed to share the evaluation framework with Standing Committee on Social Development before the end of the school year and to continue working with the committee over the source of the three-year pilot.

I have also...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do our fund our schools at over $155 million in the 2017-2018 school year. One in particular such is inclusive schooling, which is $26.5 million. Some of these funding formulas we are actually funding over the above legislated values, and as he mentioned with the formula funding, he has recognized that some of them include junior kindergarten; however, some do include kindergarten. We are looking at reviewing some of these funding formulas, and appreciate that the Member has brought that to our attention. We would just let the Member know that we are looking at some of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What I can commit to is that we will work with our education authorities, as we have created an accountability framework in reporting for our education authorities on how they spend their dollars for the 2017-2018 school year, and get those exact figures as we move forward. Right now, we are still looking at how many numbers we are going to get, but we can commit to working with our education authorities and getting those exact numbers and providing those reports as we do every year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

To my right, I have my assistant deputy minister of Education and Culture, Ms. Rita Mueller, and Mr. Michael Reddy with our legislative division. Thank you.