Northlands superintendent hired

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Education Minister Nancy Betkowski today announced the appointment of a new superintendent for the province's largest school district.

"Mr. Brian Callaghan has accepted the position of superintendent for Northlands School Division #61, effective July 13," says Mrs. Betkowski. "The size of the division and the location of some rather remote schools makes the job a challenging one; Mr. Callaghan's nomination was enthusiastically approved by the trustees."

Mr. Callaghan was most recently the principal at the Kativik School Board in northern Quebec where the population was mostly of Inuit ancestry. He is a graduate of Concordia and McGill universities and is presently completing his master's degree at the University of Alberta. His thesis is on native expectations for local control.

"Brian brings a lot of experience and a fresh perspective to the division," says board chairman Jeff Chalifoux. "We join with the Minister and staff of Alberta Education in welcoming him."

Northlands School Division #61 operates 24 schools in the northern half of Alberta, stretching from Nose Creek south of Grande Prairie north to Fort Chipewyan and from the British Columbia border to the Saskatchewan border. Over 2,500 students mostly of Native origin attend these schools. The division has 175 teachers and almost 90 teacher aides.

"We are pleased with the partnership relationship that has been established between the government and the Northland trustees," adds Chalifoux. "I am sure that Brian's appointment will help continue the tradition."