Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a few short questions for the Minister of Education. Now, Mr. Speaker, on October 11, 2017, the Minister committed to assessing the Moose Kerr School every year as part of the capital planning process. What did that work look like for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, the Member is right. Within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, we have a needs assessment, a 20-year needs assessment, and we review it on an annual basis and update it on an annual basis. As you know, within the department, we have to look after schools, colleges, learning centres, libraries, museums, and make a priority out of those infrastructures, not to mention looking at the priorities of other departments within this government. As the Member knows, any time we look at putting in additional space or make it a new school, the utilization rate or the enrolment rate has to reach 85 per cent. Aklavik currently is at 36 per cent, and I know that the Member has brought this up as a concern over the years since he and I have both been sitting in this House. However, with our most recent technical study evaluation, it was noted that the school is in good condition, and that extended the school life for 20 years. So, at this moment, there are no plans for replacement or renovations at Moose Kerr School. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Minister answered a part of this question, but I'll ask it anyway: what is the department's current plan for Moose Kerr School?
As always, we are committed to looking at all of our assets and our infrastructure within all the areas that I mentioned earlier on a yearly basis and update them. Currently for this year, we are allocating about $223,000 for small capital funding, and that will be allocated for site demolition and removal for the hazardous portables and the creation of a play space for the students and the community.
We are also working with the hamlet to address some of the issues around safety for the students who are walking from within the community to the school; and also looked at possibly how we can make some improvements to the parking situation and those discussions are happening. Also, since 2008, we have made a lot of investments into Moose Kerr and just a little over $2.56 million since 2008. I can share with the Member what those improvements were and maybe he can share that with the leadership that have also shown some concern as well.
What major capital work is planned for Northwest Territories schools in 2018-2019?
We do have a few projects on the go. We're looking at a mid-life retrofit, including all major building systems within the Lutsel K'e Dene School; obviously, at Ecole Alain St-Cyr, we're still continuing to do work there; Mangilaluk School, in Tuktoyaktuk, we're putting some additions; the Charles Tetcho School, in Trout Lake, we are continuing to do some work there. That has been some of our major programs that we have got on tap here for 2018-2019. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
