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Anoka-Hennepin presents American Indian Education annual update; board approves compliance documents
Summary
District staff and parent-advisory members presented the American Indian Education program’s annual update and data; the board approved Appendix I annual compliance documents by a 6–0 vote.
Tom Shaw, Director of Student Services, and Mindy Myers, American Indian Program Coordinator, presented the American Indian Education program’s annual update to the board on Feb. 24 and described program staffing, services and family engagement activities that support more than 1,200 American Indian students in the district.
Myers said the program is “rooted in the partnership and the relationship between our sovereign native nations and the United States government” and described state and federal funding for the program. Myers told the board the program provides direct school support through seven advisors (when fully staffed), field trips, cultural groups, family engagement events, scholarships for tutoring and ACT prep, and connections to indigenous mental-health professionals through the American Indian Family Center.
Parent advisory leaders described committee membership and functions. Anthony Drews (APAC chair) and Kimberly Bridal (co-chair) explained the APAC’s and JOM committee’s roles in advising programming and noted an almost-unanimous vote of concurrence with district documents during their annual review.
Myers and Shaw presented data showing Anoka-Hennepin American Indian students outperform statewide American Indian students on several measures but that gaps persist between American Indian students and the district average. The presentation also included program goals for graduation rate increases, college-credit participation, literacy, and positive self-esteem, and listed family events such as a spring powwow on April 12 and a senior honoring in May.
On a motion from Director Simon and second from Director Langenfeld, the board voted 6–0 to approve Appendix I, the annual compliance documents for the American Indian program. Director D’Shane and others thanked presenters and encouraged board attendance at the powwow.
Board discussion emphasized family engagement, staff partnerships and continuing efforts to reduce achievement gaps. The presenters said the program meets required reporting obligations including Title VI progress reports and JOM grant reporting.
