MCK requests meetings with members of the Combined Schools Committee

08/07/2012

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) would like to inform the community that, in response to continuing concerns/complaints from concerned parents and education system staff, it has sent letters to members of the Kahnawake Combined Schools Committee to request meetings with Chief & Council.

“At this time there are more questions that have arisen regarding compliance with the Education Constitution and related matters,” said Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, one of the education portfolio chiefs. “The MCK has the right, authority and – most important – the obligation to ensure that education services are carried out with the proper diligence. There are questions that we need to have answered if we are to properly protect the integrity of our education system and rebuild a sense of trust that has been severely damaged over the past several months.”

The letters clearly outline some of the MCK’s concerns, including the fact that the majority of members of the Committee appear to be operating in clear violation of their own Constitution.

The Committee, and the community at large, is hereby reminded that the Kahnawake Combined Schools Committee operates under delegated authority as per Mohawk Council Resolution #5/1983-84. As such, the Committee is accountable not only to the parents of the community, but also to the MCK. While the Committee has been operating for many years with minimal input from Chief & Council, the fact remains that the MCK remains the responsible body in cases where there is a major breakdown in governance or a complete lack of confidence.

Please note that the letter is not a reaction or response to the Committee’s recent announcement regarding a settlement with the former Director of Education.