School District #83 trustees are looking for recognition of the value of aboriginal education classrooms from the provincial government.
The board included the addition of aboriginal services into the guiding principles of the long-term facilities plan in hopes that it will help send a message to the Ministry of Education that space should be allocated in schools for aboriginal education rooms.
Currently, the school district has created some aboriginal education classrooms or areas within local schools; however, the ministry does not recognize this when they consider planning for facilities or determining the student capacity of individual school buildings.
Board chair Bobbi Johnson told the board the School Trustees Association hopes to lobby the government to ensure space is allotted in each school for aboriginal education.
“These become important rooms for kids and their learning, and it should be part of our facilities planning,” she said.
The board unanimously approved the motion.