BOYLE – Two years into his new role, Boyle School’s principal Jason Mestinsek is hoping a little creative thinking will help improve his students access to opportunities.
Mestinsek talked with Village of Boyle councillors for 30 minutes during the regular council meeting April 2, discussing everything from transportation to student programming as he asked the municipality for help addressing issues.
“In the past, we’ve been a little guilty as a municipality for just staying away. Normally when you’re a small town like this there’s always people involved in the school system. Our intention is not to get in your way,” said Mayor Colin Derko.
Council discussed the possibility of partnering students with their public works staff to repair campus infrastructure, including track and field equipment, as well as ways to help with an ongoing struggle for Aspen View schools.
“We have lots of students that are looking for opportunities, and sometimes those opportunities are further away from Boyle, as opposed to being here,” said Mestinsek.
Portage College was a common name for the two institutions discussed — the Lac La Biche-based school offers a variety of trades programs with strong hands-on options, something Mestinsek believes is important to his students.
“We partnered with Portage this year which was really successful as a pilot. We bussed kids for 20 hours of welding that week. I had parents phoning me that week in tears saying, ‘That was the best experience my kids have ever had,’” he said.
“I need to be able to get my kids to the opportunities. Portage has state of the art construction, welding, pipefitting. They have power engineering. I just need to be able to get my kids 40 minutes down the highway.”
Locally, the village is exploring ways for students to get hands on experience working with the public works department. Derko said identifying projects students could complete for the village would be one possibility, but it was far from an exhaustive list.
Councillors also asked Mestinsek if students would be willing to help clean up the village. Boyle’s community cleanup program pays organizations to help beautify the community, but councillors were hoping it might instill a community-minded ethos in the kids.
“Right on the surface, it’s nice to clean up your community, but we’re looking more for people to fill these chairs one day,” said Derko.
“They need to get that community spirit and that volunteerism, they need to learn it from someplace. Some of these families that maybe weren’t brought up around here might feel standoffish, but if the kids get involved then it becomes their community.”
In return for student help cleaning downtown, the recreation areas, and the walking trails, councillors committed $1,000 to the school. While a grand might not seem like a lot of money, Derko said he knew staff can stretch funds.
"I've heard teachers say, 'If I had $40 I could bring all the kids crayons,' and I'm just like, holy shit. In the business world it doesn't make sense but for you guys it’s a reality."
The school year is on its last legs, but councillors will be trying to set up a meeting between Aspen View, Boyle School, MLA Glenn van Dijken and Portage College over the summer to see what can be done.
“We’re looking for partnerships,” said Mestinsek.
“If I could leave council with anything, it’s that transportation is the key.”
