After spending more than a year meeting with stakeholders, the Education Reform Project is being sent back to the communities to get more public input.

And one of its co-chairs has resigned.

The project is a two-year initiative, announced in August 2005, aimed at addressing the gap between first nation and non-first nation student outcomes in education.

The project is a joint initiative between the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and the territorial government. It is also meant to involve stakeholders and consultations in Yukon communities to look at ways to improve and change challenges facing the territory's education system.

Co-chair Ed Schultz, of the CYFN, resigned from the project April 23.

It is the same day the project began its two-month road trip around the territory to again go back to communities and tell them what was heard during the first round of consultations that spanned from October 2005 until November 2006.

Liberal Education critic Eric Fairclough informed the legislative assembly yesterday that Schultz had resigned from the project.

Education Minister Patrick Rouble said it's not his place to announce Schultz's resignation when he's the CYFN representative on the project.

The Star contacted Schultz, but he declined to comment, stating he isn't yet willing to talk about his resignation.

Schultz directed the Star to contact CYFN Grand Chief Andy Carvill, who did not return phone calls.

Fairclough said he hopes now that Schultz is no longer part of the reform project he may be able to discuss some of its work with the public.

'I want to hear from the person that resigned,' said Fairclough. 'I'd love it, I think we all would, to hear his thoughts on the work that was done to date and hear his own personal input on that. The public is waiting to hear back from government.'

Rouble said he is not aware of any confidentiality agreement that would prevent Schultz from discussing the project. He added, however, Schultz is an 'honourable' and 'professional' man and wouldn't expect him to do so.

Yukon Party cabinet spokesperson Albert Petersen has previously informed the Star any contact with the project and its chairs must be directed through the cabinet office.

The project also ceased returning calls to the newspaper beginning in December despite previous interviews with its team.

After more than a year's work that includes notices of meetings with Yukon school councils, the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society of Yukon, first nations governments, the ombudsman, Food for Learning, the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Yukon College, Association of Yukon School Administrators and territorial departments, the project has not yet released any of its work.

According to a timeline on the Education Reform Project's website, consultations were meant to be concluded in February 2006 with the development of position papers by March 2006.

These papers were meant to receive feedback from the executive committee, which is composed of Rouble, chair of the Chiefs Committee on Education Joe Linklater and Kaska Chief Liard McMillan, by April 2006, with final feedback and recommendations being made by December 2006.

Fairclough has tabled a motion in the assembly calling on the government to release the previous work of the project, before it was advised on Dec. 11 to go out and consult more Yukoners.

'From information that I've gathered from talking to people, there are quite a few of these papers that were put together, between 10 and 20 pieces. That type of thing could be brought out to the public,' said Fairclough.

According to information obtained by the Star, and confirmed by the Department of Education, at least 10 sole-sourced contracts were allocated through the department for research papers conducted for the education reform project.

The department, however, has declined to release the papers, stating it is not the repository of the information and to contact the project directly.

The topics of the documents are listed as including traditional governance, first nation curriculum development, first nations in urban school settings, rural high schools, school board administration and leadership.

One contract, covering the period from September to October 2006, contained a description line stating: 'Recommendations Education Reform Project.'

Rouble has declined to comment on if the position papers cited in the education reform project's timeline actually exist.

'A position has not been taken,' he said. 'A position is your final decision. We are not at the point yet to take a position or to make a final decision.'

The Education department has had the opportunity to review the contents of some of the reports generated by the project, Clea Ainsworth, the department's spokesperson, has previously told the Star.

Access to Information requests submitted by the Star requested the documents confirmed by the Department of Education as produced for the project were denied, as was any information related to the project itself.

The denial indicated the project does not fall under the definition of within the definition of public body in the Yukon's Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Fairclough said the Liberals attempted to access information regarding the project with similar results.

'It doesn't make sense,' he said.

The Minister of Education is involved in the executive committee and does give direction, said Fairclough, adding Rouble receives quarterly reports.

Rouble has confirmed that the project is directed by the executive committee.

'They've been set up to provide advice on the Council of First Nations and the Minister of Education,' said Rouble.

'It's taxpayers' dollars that are being spent on this consultation. It's public money and the public has a right to know what the product is,' said NDP Education critic Steve Cardiff. 'Whether the product is good or bad or whatever, it should be available to people to see.'

Rouble declined to comment on if it perceives the project as a public body.

Linklater, however, told the Star he would describe it as a public body because it is being paid for by public money.

He, however, also does not support the release of the findings of the project until all consultations have been concluded.

The delay in the release provides an opportunity for the Chiefs Committee on Education to decide what options it wants to consider before presenting its findings to the CYFN's grand chief, said Linklater.

'We may have to look at other options,' he said.

The education reform project comes in the midst of three first nations indicating they intend to draw down the responsibility of education.

The review of the Yukon Education Act is already late by seven years and the transfer of education programs is contained in Section 17 of most self-government agreements.

Kwanlin Dun, Na Cho Nyak Dun and Little Salmon-Carmacks have begun the process of negotiating the drawing down of education to their governments.

Some first nations do want to draw down education, said Linklater, while others want more information on how the government intends to address the education system.

If partnerships aren't established, there are first nations that feel the only option is to draw down education, he said.

Linklater said the reform project was sent back to the communities to do consulting, because the initial reports had an overall focus on governance. It was hoped by the executive committee to get the project to expand its scope.

The project has prepared a 15-point handout to distribute at the latest community consultations, entitled What We Heard.

It includes suggestions of creating a first nations school, curriculum changes to reflect first nations culture and history, language revitalization, land-based education, elders in schools and more meaningful collaboration between schools and first nations.

'In order to be open, meaningful and constructive you've got to have the opportunity for the different groups to put forward different ideas for different organizations to hear different arguments and look for the solution,' said Rouble.

Linklater, however, said despite the continuing consultations, he is on the understanding the work of the reform project is near completion and a draft report will be in the hands of the principles by July.

Cardiff said it seems like the project is being told to go and redo its assignment.

'There was a consultation done. There were options papers created. Obviously if they are going out to do the consultation again, then they were told what they presented isn't acceptable to the government,' he said. 'It's not whether it's acceptable to the government. It's whether it's acceptable to the public.'

The release of any product produced by education reform is an important part of stimulating the discussion in the public, he added.

'This government has a problem with public consultation,' said NDP Leader Todd Hardy. 'If it doesn't seem to be coming back with the answers that they want, they either just delay it year after year or else they try to ram it back out into the public.

'They tell the boards or committees that do the consultation that it isn't good enough. We want you to go back out there and get the answers we want.'

'My concern is that it's not really public consultation. They've already decided what kind of answers they want. They aren't trying to consult the public. They are trying to shape the public's opinion.'

Rouble said it is about involving Yukoners in the development of positions on the education system and finding solutions on how to change.

'Education and the future of our youth is too important of an issue to even contemplate failure on,' he said.

Rouble expects the final report from the project to be available by the fall.

The remaining co-chair of the education reform project, Colin Kelly, did not return phone calls from the Star.