N.W.T. School Boards Secure Emergency Funding for Assistants

Several school boards in the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) have received a one-time allocation of emergency funding from the territorial government to support educational assistant positions. This financial assistance comes in the wake of changes to the federal government’s Jordan’s Principle program, which eliminated funding for numerous education assistant roles. The N.W.T. government has allocated up to $14 million to help offset these cuts.

According to Agata Gutkowska, a spokesperson for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, three school boards have successfully qualified for this funding: Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1), the Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CSFTNO), and the Beaufort Delta Educational District. A stipulation attached to the funding requires these boards to utilize any existing surpluses before accessing the emergency funds, a requirement that some education leaders believe is impractical.

Gutkowska acknowledged the challenges posed by this approach, stating, “This initiative is a temporary measure designed to provide short-term stability during a period of transition.”

When YK1 announced its receipt of the funding, CBC News sought clarification on how the school board met the funding requirements, the specific amount received, and the number of education assistants it plans to hire. Graham Arts, assistant superintendent of YK1, did not provide direct answers but emphasized the priority of reinstating educational assistants whose positions were previously cut.

“Once we have fulfilled that commitment to our employees, we will know how many additional positions are available for any potential new hires,” Arts stated. He did not specify the number of potential hires, but the school district has previously indicated that it lacks the funds to retain 79 education assistants.

In contrast, Krista Cudmore, assistant superintendent of the Beaufort Delta Educational District, confirmed receipt of the one-time funding for the 2025-2026 school year. She stated that her board had met the requirement to apply surplus funds and that the funding received would cover the costs of current educational assistants, although specific figures were not disclosed.

CSFTNO did not respond to requests for comment from CBC News.

Not all school boards in the N.W.T. are eligible for this funding, however. Tina Schauerte, chair of the Yellowknife Catholic Schools board, explained that her board is in the final year of a multi-year funding agreement with Ottawa and thus does not qualify for the territorial funding. The expiration of this funding agreement is set for June 2026, which raises concerns about future support for First Nations students enrolling in their schools.

“Our Jordan’s Principle funding is set to expire in June 2026. This means that any First Nations student requiring support who enrolls in our school division after this period would be without Jordan’s Principle funding,” Schauerte noted. She highlighted that her board has already utilized over $400,000 from its surplus to ensure that new Indigenous students receive the necessary support, including hiring additional classroom assistants and a part-time program support teacher.

With the uncertainty surrounding future funding, Schauerte emphasized the board’s commitment to advocating for sustainable support. “Currently, there is no commitment from ECE on future funding with the loss of Jordan’s Principle funding for the school year 2026-2027,” she stated.

As these school boards navigate the complexities of funding and educational support, the temporary measures in place aim to provide critical stability during a challenging transition period. The effectiveness of these initiatives will depend significantly on the collaboration between the boards and the N.W.T. government in securing long-term solutions for educational funding.