Bloods taking control of education

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Band control of reserve schools here on the Blood reserve, will take effect in the next school year, says Dr. Pier DePaola, director of the Blood Tribe Education.

DePaola said the Blood Tribe Education Committee hopes to have total control of their education by Sept. 1988 or 1989. He said the idea should take effect next September.

"The committee wants a written constitution for the school board, to co-operate as a non-profit organization," said DePaola. "The final draft will be ready for approval by February."

The Blood reserve has three Federal schools, St. Mary's High School, Standoff Elementary, and Lavern Elementary. St. Mary's has a total of 270 students from grades seven to 12. Standoff has 286 students to grade six, and Lavern has 81 students from nursery to grade six.

The reserve has close to 1,400 students attending schools on the reserve and at the three at Lethbridge, Fort MacLeod, and Cardston school division has the majority of the reserve students with 725 students attending its schools.

DePaola said the committee wants a letter, outlining different tasks and supporting its goals. He said from this evaluation letter, the committee will know what to expect.

The committee also wants a clear message from the government that the treaty rights for education, will not be endangered by local control. And a directive to Alberta Education to do an evaluation of Federal schools and facilities to see it adds up to provincial standards.

The other items the committee wants is a new school for Lavern and a special education program for students with learning disabilities.

DePaola said the Provincial government supports the reserves decision to take control of their schools and funds. However, the Federal government is making slow progress.

"We've been waiting since August 12 for any information regarding this transfer," from the federal government said DePaola.

The Federal government allocates $4.3 million a year for all the Blood reserve students said DePaola. And they have 100 percent chance of getting control of this money to operate their own tuitions, as well as the students who attend off reserve schools.

The committee had a meeting with the Cardston School Division, to negotiate a direct tuition agreement. And a direct election, to have members of the Blood reserve sit on the Cardston school board.

Cardston School Division Superintendent, Brent Neilson, said the Cardston school board is willing to help the Blood Tribe gets its own education.

However, Neilson didn't comment on the direct tuition agreement. He said the Blood Tribe Committee would have to get control of its education first. At present, the Cardston school board has direct agreement with Indian Affairs.

Neilson also said the agreement to have reserve members sit on the Cardston school board is impossible because of the present school board act. He didn't explain what the act said.