VIRGINIA- ISD 2142 has some work to do to bring its Indian Education program up to snuff, according to an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC) report presented at the district’s March 22 school board meeting.
Committee chair Muriel Deegan was present via Zoom and member Hannah Chosa attended in person to describe the areas of concern, engage in discussion with board members and Superintendent Reggie Engebritson, and answer any questions.
The formal cover letter of the report notes that AIPAC issued a “vote of nonconcurrence” that indicates their findings that the district is out of compliance with multiple state standards for meeting the needs of American Indian students. The report outlines five areas of concern and recommendations for addressing them. Deegan opened the presentation.
“One of the things that is really important to us is for the district to be in compliance with teaching American Indian standards within our classrooms,” she said. “The standards should have already been implemented in the classrooms through curriculum. Indian Education should not be purchasing curriculum, trainings, and materials, and Native American experts and culture need to be made available to teachers.”
Deegan said the committee recommended that Native experts and topics on culture should be included in teacher in-service training days.
Chosa took on the next area of concern regarding an unfilled cultural liaison position that lacks a completed job description.
“As far as we know, (the job description) should have been completed already,” she said. “We don’t know what the holdup is. We would like to see that job description completed. If the position isn’t filled, we would like you to consider bringing back the Indian Education Director position to guide the schools and teachers. It’s supposed to be someone who is in collaboration between the school system and the tribes.”
Engebritson noted that the district had someone with the Bois Forte Band that they were partnering with, but that person left.
“So now we’re working on it – it’s a work in progress,” she said.
Deegan said the committee wants more transparency and accountability for funds and grants specifically earmarked for Indian Education and asked that the information be posted to the district’s website and regularly updated.
Board member Bob Larson asked if there were specific grants AIPAC wanted to know about.
“I think that’s the point,” Deegan responded. “We’re not sure what grants were submitted or what was resubmitted. We would like to see a little bit more to keep track of our own money within our own budgets.”
Other concerns raised in the AIPAC report included a perceived need for more full-time academic support for Native students, and that Indian Education staff need to be properly trained before they’re hired and receive ongoing support to ensure that all Native students are receiving adequate and appropriate services in each building.
Engebritsen said that the district has been focused on improving communication this year, with staff holding regular meetings with Bois Forte Director of Career Development Travis Vake and Fond du Lac School Superintendent Jennifer Murray, but the information in the AIPAC report came as a bit of a surprise to her and the board.
“We can’t fix what we don’t know,” Engebritson said. “This is supposed to be a collaboration, a partnership, and we don’t have all the resources. So, we reach out to try to get people to help us and we’ll continue to do that.”
Engebritson also expressed a minor concern about providing more student support, given the multiple layers of support and directed intervention plans the district already has in place. Native students in many cases may already be getting the support they need, just not from a designated Indian Education-funded staff member, and she said a more thorough assessment of the need would be a good first step.
The board voted to formally accept the report and has 60 days to develop a written response to the findings.

Teacher contract
After the board meeting, the Timberjay asked Engebritson for an update about negotiations for a new teacher contract. The initial tentative agreement between the district and EdMn Local 1046 negotiators last October was voted down, and the sides have been unable to reach a compromise acceptable to local members. After having used a state labor negotiator, both parties agreed to resume face-to-face negotiations, Engebritson said.
“We’re trying to find that balance between being fiscally responsible and supporting the people that we have,” Engebritson said. “We value them and we need them here to teach our kids. I feel like we’re making progress and hopefully we’re getting close. I think everyone would like a contract that we can agree on so that we can put this behind us and move on.”
On Wednesday, it appeared middle ground remaine elusive, as a meeting notice distributed by email from the district's main office announced another negotiating meeting set for May 4, this one including the state Bureau of Mediation Services.