This report of the Distance Education Secondary School Committee of Northern Ontario, which is composed of representatives of the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Independent Learning Centre, Native and French language components of the MOE, and Contact North, discusses the role that the Contact North distance education network can play in the achievement of the goals of the Ontario government. Government priorities are listed, and contributions of Contact North in providing residents of isolated communities increased access to formal and informal educational opportunities are summarized. Contact North services to delivering institutions are listed, and curriculum support potential is identified. Benefits for students, teachers, and school board personnel are considered, including increased curriculum options, course enhancement, cultural enrichment, guidance and career planning, educational upgrading, inservice training, and development of local programs. Background on Contact North participants, funding considerations, course delivery, and the advantages of centralization is provided. The benefits of collaboration are discussed, including cost-efficiency, a universal timetable, participation by provincially-funded schools, large school participation, stability, and minimized local differences; and recommendations are offered for release time for teachers to deliver courses on the Contact North system and funding for smaller school boards to provide inservice training, curriculum development, and supervisory services through distance education. (ALF)