Classroom portables expected to arrive in Colville Lake, N.W.T., this winter

Multiple classroom portables are expected to arrive in Colville Lake, N.W.T. by winter road this year to help alleviate issues with crowding at thecommunity's aging school.

If they arrive on time, the plan is for the portables to be operational by next school year.

To Sheena Snow, a concernedColville Lake parent, that doesn't solve the major issues facing the school. She saidthe necessary solution is a new building. This issomething the community is planning to have built, but the project is still in the early stages.

"It's just not happening. And I don't think it'll ever happen, I think we're going to be stuck in the old rotting log building and the different trailers that we have to use," Snow said.

"For us community members, it feels like a third world countryschool where there's just complete poverty."

The main building is made from logs. It's an octagonal shaped school, so there aren't square classrooms. The walls are made of plywood that only go up about halfway, meaning the noise travels between classrooms, Snowsaid.

Snow went to school there and knows what it's like for herchildren.

"They don't like it, they don't like going to school, they'd rather stay at home, at home is warm," she said.

"In school in the winter, it's coldfrom the windows because they have such old outdated windows."

The cold is another concern she has withportables, as students need to go outside to get to their classesin -50 C, whichcan be dangerous.

The portables are costing the N.W.T. government $3.9 million, and will include two classrooms and one bathroom.

The community has been wanting a new school for years, if not decades.

Education Minister Caitlin Clevelandsaid she appreciates hearing the concerns from Snow, adding thatshe's also spoken with students from Colville Lake about their experience at the school.

She said both the territorial government and the community government share a common goal of getting the school built. But that it will take time, as it's different from most projects.

This is becauseBehdzi Ahda First Nation has taken thelead on creating the school instead of the territorial government, which usually oversees the creation of new schools.

Cleveland said the N.W.T. government isworking with the First Nation to finalize a design plan chosen by the First Nation. This needs to be completed before moving onto the next stage.

In September, Behdzi Ahda First Nation Chief Richard Kochon told CBC News there's been some development on the school, including gravel being laid and somefunding being secured.

"I think the government is going to come up with half of the money, and the community too," he said.

Kochon said with the community taking the lead on designing the school, it allows them to plan it so that they can focus onnorthern education.

"We want our kids to learn the northern way, how to work in the cold weather, check nets in the cold weather, how to survive in the cold weather too," he said.