Kashechewan students get extra teachers at Kapuskasing facility

The school year is looking up for Kashechewan students living in Kapuskasing.

After a delayed start to the school year, they've been in classes for one month now.

The students were relocated because of flood damage in their home community.

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Kashechewan'seducation director said they're being taught in a facility at a cost of approximately $1.2 million for the entire school year.

Oliver Wesley said the First Nation is paying about 30 per cent of that price tag, while Aboriginal Affairs covers the rest.

Splitting the cost has allowedKashechewanto hire four urgently needed teachers on its reserve, he added.

We like to function and operate a well and good standard curriculum within our community. We like to see some students become lawyers, like any other communities or towns.

Six teachers are currently working at the school, Wesley said. A full-time principal is still needed.

There were fears about how much moneyKashechewanwould have to pay for its students inKapuskasing, Wesley noted.

"It's quite fair, I think. It's not as much as we anticipated."

Wesley said it was cheaper to rent a separate facility for students instead of placing them in the provincial system.

Aboriginal Affairs has yet to deliver a response to CBC's questions about fundingKashechewan's school inKapuskasing.