Yahk Elementary School’s teacher, Mrs. Linda Allred feels that the most important thing a student can learn in any educational setting is that with reasonable goals, and a positive, self-confident attitude, coupled with a willingness to keep trying in the face of disappointment, each student can succeed and learn.
She was born into a Saskatchewan farm family along with three sisters and two brothers. Having experienced small-school education first hand, during her first ten grades, she still remembers her early school years fondly. Faced with financing her own college tuition after graduation, she worked for two years, before enrolling in Rick’s College, in Idaho. From there she went to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where she earned a bachelor’s degree with a double major (B.S Elem. Ed., and B.S. in Child Development and Family Relations.) She taught grade two for one year in Vernal, Utah before returning to Canada. She moved to Calgary, teaching kindergarten and first grade for a year each. Then she moved to southern Alberta to teach for three years, completing a fifth-year program at the University of Lethbridge to earn her Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate for Alberta in 1974. She is the only member of her family that ever worked as a teacher.
In 1978, she married Mr. Brad Allred, and moved to Coutts, Alberta, where she took several years off from teaching to be a stay-at-home mom for her own children.
They moved to Yahk in 1987, and in 1989, she began working as a substitute teacher for School Dirstrict #8. Although she was already qualified for an Interim Teaching Certificate in British Columbia, she chose to take additional courses from the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook to earn her Professional Teaching Certificate which was awarded to her in 2001. She did not work as a full-time teacher in Yahk until 2002. Since then, however, she has had steady employment at Y.E.S.
The school is an important hub of activity in Yahk-Kingsgate, and an important asset to the community, because younger residents will not find Yahk an attractive place to reside if no school exists for their children, and without the steady influx of young people, the community will atrophy as its elderly citizens pass away. It is a modern, well-equipped school, where students find much to stimulate learning. Most residents fear that once closed, it would not likely be re-opened, for financial reasons. Due to the low number of students attending this year (11 kindergarteners and two in other grades) the School Board is considering closing the school.
When asked what she thought was the most important goal of education, Linda replied, “The most important thing in education is to find which mode of education best fits the individual student—whether it be classroom instruction, art, social activities, or work experience—whatever works for the student. Children must feel secure, loved, and appreciated; able to make wise decisions for themselves without being led by the crowd.”
When asked what she felt was the most important lesson a child could learn in school, she mentioned a good self-image, self-respect, respect for others, and perseverance.
When asked what was her best vision for Yahk Elementary School, she said, “ I’d like to see it return to its capacity of forty or so students with two or three full-time teachers, offering grades K -- 7. She mentioned that she has been approached by several parents who anticipate sending additional children to the school if it remains open (including one family with six children). Those parents expressed concern about the possible closure. Several parents who have chosen to bus their children to Creston said their reason was to afford their children with an educational experience within a larger group of students their age.
As for her own plans, she said, “I will continue to teach here as long as I can, but if the school does close, I will seek a position in another school.”
What do you enjoy about teaching here? She answered, “I love the children, and the thrill of seeing the look in their faces when they suddenly comprehend something for the first time—that bright spark of enlightenment in their eyes. In our little school, there are so few problems. We almost never see bullying, or scornful, profane language. Discipline problems are rarely serious, or numerous. It is so different from the big city schools, where learning situations may be more exciting, but stressful experiences may be traumatic.”
Yahk Elementary School Teacher: Linda Allred
photo by R.Lee Rose
YAHK SCHOOL INFORMATION PAGE
High Speed Internet in Yahk - A Critical Survey
Please take the time to read this - Due OCTOBER 11TH 2005
The Provincial Government and Telus have negotiated an agreement to bring high speed, affordable internet service to British Columbians. We are one of the designated communities to apply for this opportunity. The Communications committee must submit its application by the 15th of October and demonstrate community support for the service in order to be considered eligible to be the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for our area. This is a community orientated non-profit initiative, not from a private company. Your information will be confidential and used only for the stated purpose. For more information please visit www.yahkkingsgate.com or call Penny A.P. Anderson 424-5596.
Name: Phone: E-mail:
Mailing Address:
Since our model will be based on a wireless broadcast signal we will need to know the physical location of your home
or business in order to develop our technical plan (street address or description of location).
Physical Address:
Do you presently subscribe to an internet service provider (Telus, Uniserve, etc.)? Yes No
If yes, who is your current ISP? Cost per month? $
Do you pay for an additional telephone line for your dial-up internet connection? Yes No
Select from the following which would describe your usage - please circle all that apply:
business personal educational society/club/organization
Would you sign up for a Yahk service if it provided long term, reliable, high speed access?
Not at all I would consider it Definitely
Up to how much would you be willing to pay per month for broadband internet?
$30-$40 $40-$50 $50-$60 $60 or more
In addition to monthly subscription cost wireless broadband has some equipment costs at the customer's location, for antennae, mounting gear, radio, cable, etc (somewhat similar to but not exactly like satellite TV equipment). Which of the following fee scenarios would you consider suitable (please circle the letter):
a) Pay up to $500 up front for the customer premise equipment and have a lower subscription fee
b) Lease-to-own the customer premise equipment at an estimated rate of $25/month for a period of 24 months
c) Rent the equipment at a tentative price of $15/month (this may differ, depending on actual CPE cost)
d) Would you subscribe for Satelite Internet (actual two way) service $58/month - $200 set up fee - $600 equipment fee
As this is a community-based, non-profit initiative with the goal of offering broadband internet service in our area as inexpensively as possible we will be relying on volunteers and community support to help build our network.
Would you be willing to volunteer or offer other assistance? Yes No
If you answered yes to the above question and want to detail how you might help please do so here:
Thank you for your support! YK Communications Committee
www.yahkkingsgate.com - Box 13 Yahk, BC V0B 2P0 - ykwebsite@yahoo.ca
NOTE- Survey will be working Friday October 7th, 2005
There have recently been several announcements regarding support for Community Network initiatives. The first announcement was from the BC Community Connectivity Cooperative (BC3) and the First Nations Technology Council (FNTC) regarding the "Community Networking Infrastructure Grants" (CNIG). The second announcement came from the Province of BC and Telus Inc. and identified support for Community Network initiatives through the "Connecting Communities" partnership.
Please find below information on the programs that may be of interest to our community and network initiatives underway or in development.
The First Nations Technology Council (FNTC) and the BC Community Connectivity Cooperative (BC3) have received a total of $600,000 in funding from NetWorkBC (Ministry of Management Services) to provide Community Networking Infrastructure Grants (CNIG) of up to $20,000 each in support of “last-mile” infrastructure to communities on the Provincial Digital Divide list. The funding is available for the purchase of equipment required to connect from a local broadband point of presence (POP) already existing in the community, or existing in a nearby community in the case of some First Nations, (see list of First Nations ‘in proximity’ from FNTC), to other community buildings. The Grant can also be used for labour in the installation of this equipment. Approximately 30 communities will receive funding Grants. .Only the 151 communities on the NetWorkBC Digital Divide list and the First Nations on the ‘in proximity list’ are eligible for this Grant.
Any communities applying for the Grant are required to complete the attached Community Networking Infrastructure Application form, describing how they plan to use the funding to successfully deliver broadband to their community. Applications will be evaluated by an independent committee and all applicants will be notified of the results. Regardless of whether or not your community submitted a Letter of Intent, if you meet the criteria you may apply for the grant.
Please contact NetWorkBC with any further questions regarding community eligibility. The list can be downloaded from the NetWorkBC website at http://www.network.gov.bc.ca, or you can contact the NetWorkBC office at 250-356-6118.
For further information please contact Linda Allred; Teacher or Joanne Wilson; Yahk Elementary School Principal
Phone: (250) 424-5585 Fax: (250) 424-5220
Email the school: yahk@sd8.bc.ca
Please note that whenever possible, we prefer to receive email rather than faxes.
Email is easier on the environment and easier on the budget. Thanks
Our Mailing Address is: Box 67, Yahk, British Columbia V0B 2P0
SCHOOL STAYS OPEN!
November 1st, 2005 the School Board of Trustees voted unanimously in Favor of letting our school remain open.
This is what a community spirited Area like Yahk can do!
It has been quite a story our School. One that can be told over the years as the little town that could! We can be proud of how our community came together to keep our school open!
The Board members attended a community meeting in Yahk to hear what our community had to say in relation to how a school closure would affect our society. Many spoke on behalf of the school remaining open. One Parent commented on how talk of a school closure just about became a self fulfilling prophecy. “I did not put my child in the school because we heard it was closing in December!”
The Board of Trustees said we had a wonderful community and most school closure meetings do not turn out as cordial as this one did. They were astounded at the support for the school.
Thank you Parents for enrolling your children in the community of your choice! Yahk Elementary School!
PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTER AT THE SCHOOL!
More Great news for our community! Linda Allred has recently been told that our School is eligible for a $4500 grant for a computer system for public access! The computer will be available during school hours and by Appointment after school hours.
HIGH SPEED INTERNET?
Thank you for the response to the Survey that was mailed. It looks like there is need for
High Speed internet in our community. We do have some options we are continuing to
investigate! Wireless, ADSL and Satellite!
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On Behalf of the community the Yahk Kingsgate Communications Committee (YKCC) has taken on the role of applying for broadband internet service, and to take advantage of the internet backbone gateway pricing opportunity afforded by the Telus/NetworkBC
Connecting Communities Agreement. We plan to build, operate and administer a high speed wireless network to provide last-mile broadband connectivity for the area, with the goal of offering the service at a price as comparable as possible to that offered to subscribers in BC cities. Our mandate is for our service to support community well being, vitality, and prosperity.Initially the Yahk management team consists of the YK Communications Committee, YKRS board of directors and a core group of dedicated volunteers. This management team will suffice through the infrastructure building and early marketing stages of our network
development, with outside technical assistance being brought in on a contractual basis as necessary. Additional management will be drawn from our pool of volunteers as specific tasks require, and a board of advisory volunteers will assist the management team in making decisions regarding the operation of the project. We will maintain ongoing communication and coordination of our activities with other regional community network societies also developing their infrastructure, seeking cooperative cost saving arrangements at every opportunity.
Once we have entered the operational phase of our network we will contract a system operations manager that will oversee the day to day administration of the network, if we cannot fill this position through our volunteer pool. Additional support staff will be hired as necessary on the same basis. We will seek participation from the local youth through technical and service internships (Step Grants), providing high tech training and employment opportunities for local youth.
We also are forming several strategic alliances with the business community and corporations. Revenue will be raised through grants and other fundraising efforts, as well as through the client base of rural and semi-rural residents, and small businesses and local corporations.
Our facilities (will) consist of our community, supporting network equipment and servers, and attending tower(s), and supporting infrastructure. We anticipate that for most subscribers we retain ownership of the Customer Presence Equipment (CPE) infrastructure, rental of which will be built into the cost of the service. We will lease to own or sell outright CPE infrastructure to those businesses, and residents that prefer to purchase the equipment.
Fundraising Strategy
The YK Communications Committee is committed to balancing its operating budget and operating on a solid financial foundation. These efforts are based on a mixture of revenues from grants, partnerships with local businesses and institutions, equipment sales and leases, our subscriber base, and donations of goods and services. Just as revenues are tracked, internal expenses will be closely monitored.
YKCC is intentionally emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on donation-based revenues and looks toward revenues from subscriptions to its services to support its operation. Our goal is to become self-sustaining while supplying services of benefit to our community. This is a challenge, due to the startup costs involved and the limited pool of potential subscribers to draw from, but we believe it is possible and will endeavor to achieve this goal.
During the startup period volunteers' donations of labour and materials, and business and individual contributions combined with government grants will provide the resources needed to establish our service, HIGH SPEED INTERNET Continued) minimizing the amount of additional financing needed. We will identify and seek additional funding sources and matching grants in a bid to lower the connection charges to a point that the service is financially accessible to the widest subscriber base, that we can achieve maximum initial market penetration. The goal is to achieve price parity with similar urban offerings and we will strive to achieve that. Our willingness to work with other communities in their networking initiatives allows us to draw from a deeper pool of skilled resource people, including experienced fundraisers.
Financial Plan YKCC will finance growth through cash flow, grants, donations and fund raising. We may need to apply for short term loans, based on our business plan of Number of signed up subscribers. We will buy CPEs in units of 30, so as to not maintain too large an inventory of, or financing for equipment.
Start-up Summary Our start-up costs come to $60,000, which is primarily network infrastructure and the labour to install and set it up, survey costs, marketing materials, office establishment, and the services of a technical consultant.
We will use volunteer time and donations-in-kind in order to keep start-up expenses and need for capital assets down in the early stages of operation, which could lower our actual startup costs by as much as $20,000.
As we plan to implement our network rollout in stages, there will be additional costs shortly after the service is running, including tower co-location lease payments and additional access points and CPEs. These second stage costs are outlined in the CCA Financial Model spreadsheet.
For other options and any suggestions please call:
