Director’s chair

It took a little longer than expected, but Graham Island Central has a Gwaii Trust director again.

Maureen Bailey was elected by Tlell and Port Clements-area voters on Aug. 4 in a by-election to replace Berry Wijdeven, who resigned.

But when Gwaii Trust directors met Sept. 6, Bailey could not join the board because her appointment did not get a unanimous vote. People familiar with the meeting said the issue was never about Bailey, but a larger disagreement about the way Masset and Port Clements councils are seeking to restructure Gwaii Trust.

After a review of the decision showed new Gwaii Trust directors only need a majority vote to be appointed, Bailey joined the board on Sept. 25.

Roll call

Haida Gwaii public schools have fewer than 500 students this year.

A preliminary count from the school district shows a total of 474 students are enrolled — a drop from 502 last year.

Enrolment fell in every school except Tahayghen Elementary, which has 71 students, eight more than last year. However, Tahayghen also has one less teacher, and so for the first time the school has a single class for students in four different grades (Grades 3 to 6).

As of Sept. 25, Agnes L. Mathers Elementary had 31 full-time equivalent students, while Port Clements Elementary had 23, Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay Secondary had 95, Sk’aadgaa Naay Elementary had 124, and GidGalang Kuuyas Naay Secondary had 130.

Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect the fact this is the first school year that Tahayghen Elementary has had a four-grade split class. An earlier version mistakenly repoted that it was a first for the district.

Gwaii Trust SocietyHaida Gwaii School DistrictPort ClementsTlell