Commission Scolaire Crie

The Council of Commissioners holds regular meetings to discuss and address various administrative and educational matters, with highlights of these discussions published online following each session.

The Council meeting included the approval of the 2024-2025 Audited Financial Statements and agreements of superficie between the Cree Nation of Waskaganish and the Ouje-Bougoumou Cree Nation with the Cree School Board. Updates were provided on graduation rates, cohort analysis, school leadership retention, teacher retention rates, youth sector success rates, Mikw Chiyâm, post-secondary student services enrollment rates, adult sector student success rates, and general and vocational education programs. An update was also given on the statistics of enrollment of Youth Sector Students. The Director General was appointed as the scrutineer for various elections, and the election of Commissioner Jasmine Namagoose as Vice-Chairperson was ratified.

The Council approved the 1st Revised Budget for 2025-2026, the List of Strategic Action Plan projects, payment of community user charges, the Cree School Board 2024-2025 Annual Report, and the 5-year Capital Plan. They also approved a third series of change orders and the initiation of Project EQ-02-2403 for constructing 18 housing units, a three-year agreement with SickKids for training and materials, and the hiring of Darlene Cheechoo as Deputy Director General (Adult and Higher Learning). Updates were provided on various programs and plans, including the Strategic Action Plan, Language Assessment Reports, Cree Language Mentorship Program, JBNQA Beneficiary Hiring, Staff Attendance, Student Attendance, Standards, Local Education Plan, Driving Course, and Lunch Program. Further updates were given on the Cree Succession Plan, Cree Language Curriculum Standards, Alternative Program, Communication with Youth Protection, Retention and Attendance Rates Sec II-III (2024-2025), Teacher Training Program Review, Standards in Cree Teacher Training Program, Adult Education Services, and the Literacy and Numeracy Plan. Information was shared on Grade 1 and Grade 2 Cree as a Language of Instruction, Planning of Surplus spending of Supplementary Allocation Projects, and the Peacebuilding Team. The 2nd Amendment of the Council Reporting Cycle was approved, and verbal updates were given by the Audit and Executive Committees. Updates were also provided on the Breakfast Program, Sports Programming Report, Partnerships Report, PSSS Progress Report, Higher Learning Enrollment Rates, and Capital Projects and Technical Committee Reports. The commissioners reported on priorities and concerns across communities, including building-related challenges, staffing shortages, student attendance issues, and the importance of improving learning environments, maintaining support services, and strengthening cultural and language initiatives. Mental health support, student safety, and reliable transportation were also emphasized.

The Council nominated a representative for the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Mining and approved amendments to the 2025-2026 personnel plan, including the abolishment of a Social Work Technician position and the relocation of two positions. They also approved the amended list of recommended vocational programs for the 2025-2026 school year and an amendment to the budget components for the construction of the Chisasibi Sabtuan Learning Center. Furthermore, the Council approved the modified list of hired architectural firms. Updates were given on various reports, including Major Calendar Events, Strategic Action Plan, Cree Language Mentorship Program, Language Assessment, Grade 1 iiyiyiu/iinuu ayimitaau, Vacancy Rates with Teachers, Student Attendance, Elephant Thoughts Report 2024-2025, Reading Assessment Programs/Tools, Literacy Date, Structured Literacy English Grade 1&2, iiyiyiu Education Framework, Special Needs Symposium, Structured Literacy French Grade 1&2, Empower Reading, Lexia Grade 1 -- Secondary 3, Lalilo French Grade 1-6, Work Oriented Training Program (WOTP), Individual Education Program (IEPs), Youth Fusion, Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) / YES, Capital Projects and Technical Teams, Community Education Administrators' (CEA's), and Bus Contract. The election of school committee members for Mistissini, Waswanipi and Oujé-Bougoumou was acknowledged. Commissioners provided updates on school operations across communities.

The Council approved the 2025-2026 Interim Budget, SAES General Education calendar, Vocational Training calendar, list of recommended vocational programs, new Post-Secondary Student Services rates, Memorandum of Understanding with John Abbott College for the Springboard to Nursing program, Master of Arts in Education and Society Program, Higher Learning logo/brand, new Registration Act for École Joy Ottereyes Rainbow Memorial School and the amended Registration Act for École Maquatua Eeyou School, budget components for Project EQ-02-2403, Construction of 18 Housing Units, a special allowance for eligible full-time students, and the appointment of Rezene Araia as the Cree School Board representative on the Eeyou Communications Network Board of Directors. Updates were given on various directives, programs, and projects, including the JBNQA Housing Policy, Strategic Action Plan, Cree Language Mentorship Program, Cree Hiring Strategy, School Age Program, Student Engagement, Driving Course, Breakfast Program, Lunch Program, and Sports Programming. The Cree Nation Government gave a presentation on the Cree Nation Research Institute Project.