Between 10 and 15 teachers have likely requested transfers from Vanier Catholic Secondary School, according to one Vanier teacher who has applied to change schools.

The deadline to apply for a transfer was Easter Sunday, the teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Star in an interview Monday afternoon.

The Department of Education could not confirm how many teachers have applied for transfers by press time this afternoon. The Yukon Teachers' Association, however, has also estimated the figure as a dozen or more.

"Myself, lots of people, are concerned about the direction of the school and not sure if we fit in any longer,” the teacher said, noting the shift began about three years ago.

"The hard part is putting your finger on how things have changed. A lot of damage has been done to the relationships at Vanier.”

A key problem for the teaching staff has been a lack of communication between teachers and leadership, including Bishop Gary Gordon, school administration and the school council.

The teacher noted decision-making power seemed sealed at the leadership level.

Teachers felt like they weren't included in the process, and the tensions resulted in a disintegration of the collaborative spirit that used to exist at the Duke Road school, formerly known as Jeckell Junior High School.

"The group of administrators, bishop, school council, they're working together, yet not communicating to the staff their vision of the school,” the teacher said.

"It's time to start rebuilding trust, rebuilding relationships.

"Last May and June, the Vanier staff reached out to the bishop and the council; they came and they met with us ... they talked about reaching out and collaborating more.

"Another 10 months have passed and I haven't felt that there's been that teamwork amongst the people who care about Vanier students,” the teacher noted.

But since concerns about Vanier's policy on homosexuality were raised publicly in a letter written by a parent and published in the Star on Feb. 25, creating a media storm, the teacher said it seems the Department of Education is taking their concerns more seriously.

At last Wednesday evening's school council meeting, Val Royle, the deputy minister of Education, noted that a new policy is under review.

Vanier teachers, students and the community at large will have an opportunity to comment on it before full implementation, Royle told the crowd of more than 150 people.

This was something the Vanier teacher who spoke with the Star Monday was only too happy to hear, blaming the majority of Vanier's issues on a lack of communication and collaboration.

"You can't plunk down a document like One Heart and expect that staff and students are going to understand it, are going to be OK with it and are going to be able to implement it.

"The Vanier mission statement which is on the website says that we need to celebrate the uniqueness of each child. We need to really look at, are we doing that?”

But it's not as simple as just doing away with it either, the teacher noted.

"It's a clash between the traditional teachings of the church and modern Canadian sensibilities about equality.

"There needs to be a balance there between where people are at and these traditional teachings of the church, and you need to see both sides of that. We are a Catholic school,” the teacher said.

"We also need to reflect on who our students are. The demographic of the school is such that most of the kids are not Catholic.”

Rebuilding the trust and teamwork between staff and administration is important for the students as well, the teacher said.

While Vanier's teachers are professional and don't discuss conflict with students, students can sense when staff and administration are working in a positive, cohesive manner, just as they can sense conflict, the teacher said.

Ultimately, the teachers' focus is still on classroom teaching, and they are continuing to succeed in that area, the teacher said.

"But there's so much more to a school than what is taught in a classroom; it's that school community feeling that we need to be working towards.”

But the future is hopeful. The teacher was happy to hear that Education is working to define the roles and responsibilities of the school's leadership and that its hiring policy will be reviewed.

At last week's council meeting, a former Vanier teacher suggested a mediator be hired to work with staff and administration, a proposal Royle seemed open to.

"I think a lot of us would like to stay if we start working together. I don't think 10 to 15 people want to flee Vanier so much as they're concerned about how they fit in,” the teacher noted.

"The territory is very small, and it would be very hard for the territorial system to absorb 10 to 15 teachers elsewhere.

"So the reality is some of us will still be at Vanier, and I think a lot of us would rather work at making positive change at Vanier than leaving.”

The Star's numerous calls to Gordon and Ed Frison, Vanier's principal, for comment have not been returned since the controversy exploded publicly in February.