There has been a staggered start to school re-entry following the recent evacuation. (Derek Cornet/alrongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

learning

Parents upset with NLSD re-entry plan following wildfire evacuation

Jun 18, 2025 | 1:25 PM

A decision by the Northern Lights School Division (NLSD) to delay the start of classes for students returning to the tri-communities following a wildfire evacuation has received widespread criticism.

A petition, which was launched last week requesting the school division reconsider its decision to delay returning to school until June 23, has been signed by more than 150 concerned citizens.

“The mandatory evacuation of La Ronge ended on June 12,” the petition notes.

“Most families have started to return and believe that being able to start school as soon as possible would go a long way to helping students and families return to normal. We have already lost two weeks of instructional time with the evacuation, adding more time away with a delay to return seems unnecessary.”

The petition adds many parents are having difficulty understanding the rationale behind the decision to delay the students’ return to their normal routines.

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“A period of time to reset norms and ready facilities is expected. However, with the opening of Churchill Community High School for the senior students, it does not make sense that it would not be available to all students.”

In an interview with larongeNOW, NLSD Director of Education Jason Young explained the decision to delay the return to classes was made by those at the head office, as well as local school administrators. He said their thinking was how to be consistent, collaborative and supportive.

“I think what complicated matters for us was just the number of Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency officials on our property near Pre-Cam and on Churchill grounds,” he remarked.

“We have over 350 firefighters who are staying on our property. They have about 100 tents set up. I think just to try minimizing some of the disruption there and I guess congestion, if you will, that would be taking place. We just thought we would delay our school start up.”

Young also mentioned the NLSD employs 256 staff members in the tri-communities with some who evacuated out of province. He said it took time to coordinate everyone to get facilities up and running again.

Young also mentioned aside from schools in the tri-communities that were evacuated, others were as well in communities such as Brabant Lake, Sandy Bay, Timber Bay and Weyakwin. He said that further complicates matters.

“For us, anytime you respond to a crisis event, requires for you to do some reflection and I think upon that reflection in every aspect of what we have done, there will be lessons learned and applied for future planning,” Young said.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com