AMBE announces reconfiguration of schools for school year 2012-2013

Tsiothorkowa/January 10, 2012 - The Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Education (AMBE) is committed to ensuring that the programs, services, and facilities effectively and efficiently meet the needs of all students, parents, and staff members. Since 2006, the Board of Education has undertaken numerous studies and reviews to assess the quality and effectiveness of programs and services.

Beginning in 2007, the Board has reviewed the current structure of the school system, in particular, the grade configuration of the school facilities. With the disruption of the international border crossing in 2009, the Board began investigating various options to both attract and retain students within the AMBE system given the uncertainty of the border situation.

In Seskehkowa/September 2010, the Board gave a mandate to the Director of Education to create a School Building Review Committee. A Terms of Reference was developed, as well as a work plan and timeframes were identified. Meetings were held at each school to seek membership from staff, as well as at Parent Committee meetings to seek membership from parents. Meetings of the Committee began in Enniska/February 2011, and were held monthly through to Onerahtohkowa/May. The Committee explored numerous options on school building configurations, but settled on four (4) to present to the Board of Education (one option was to remain with the status quo).

On Ohiari:ha/June 15, 2011, the Board of Education unanimously adopted Option #6 at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. On Tsiothorkowa/December 7, 2011, the present Board reaffirmed their support for the reconfiguration of the schools.

The building option that has been adopted for the 2012-2013 school year is as follows:

Tsi Snaihne School

• Early Years

• Grades 1 5

Ahkwesahsne Mohawk School

• Early Years

• Grades 1 - 5

• Middle School Grades 6-8

Kana:takon School

• Early Years

• Skahwatsi:ra

• Transition Grade 5/6

The Board of Education will be releasing further information over the upcoming months through press releases, district school meetings, CKON’s Tetewataron, and updates on the website (www.ambe.ca), which will provide more detailed information on the new configuration of the schools.

The trustees of AMBE remain confident that the new configuration of the school system will better meet the needs of students, staff, and parents. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Barry M. Montour, Ph.D., Director of Education at 613-933-0409.

“Ie thi ha hon: nien - We make the road for them.”