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School board discusses Native American Parent Advisory Committee nonconcurrence, signs response letter to state
Summary
District equity staff presented a response letter to the Native American Parent Advisory Committee's (NAPAC) January vote of nonconcurrence; board members debated the implications for community relationships and directed administration to review recommendations and submit the response to the Minnesota Department of Education.
The St. Cloud Area School District board reviewed a response letter to the Native American Parent Advisory Committee’s January vote of nonconcurrence and prepared a written reply to the Minnesota Department of Education’s Office of American Indian Education on May 7.
Ayan Omar, the district’s Equity Services Director, told the board that state rules require districts with at least 20 American Indian students reported by the October 1 MARS deadline to have an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (NAPAC) and to submit a written response to any NAPAC nonconcurrence within 60 days. Omar said NAPAC convened January 7, voted nonconcurrence and developed recommendations for programming that the board should consider.
“As shared in the response letter, the school board values its relationship with NAPAC and appreciates their collaborative input and ongoing partnership,” Omar said, and he presented a draft board response that directs the administration to review NAPAC’s suggestions, support implementation where appropriate and promote greater collaboration to improve outcomes for American Indian students.
Board members discussed the meaning of a nonconcurrence vote and the message it sends to the community. One board member expressed frustration that the nonconcurrence finding could be interpreted publicly as evidence of poor programming in a district that the speaker described as having robust American Indian education services. The speaker said the board’s letter, as written, felt “numbed down” and risked being a procedural formality rather than a substantive commitment.
Board member Natalie Copeland urged the board to view signing the response letter as part of ongoing work with tribal families and to focus on the district’s shared goals for improving graduation outcomes and culturally relevant instruction. Copeland said, “This letter isn't the work. The work is who we are and what we do and what our values are.”
The presentation noted local staff who support Native students, including Kip Perkins, the district’s American Indian education coordinator, and Heather Bridal, the district’s American Indian education cultural liaison; NAPAC Chair Rosemary Walker presented the committee’s resolution to the board earlier this year, Omar said.
Administrators told the board that, while the response is past the 60-day deadline because of weather, they intend to submit the letter to the Minnesota Department of Education. Omar circulated the board’s copy for signatures to finalize submission.
The board did not take a recorded roll-call vote; district staff circulated the response letter and sought signatures so it could be filed with MDE. Members who spoke said they want continued partnership with NAPAC and additional professional development and curriculum work to improve outcomes for American Indian students.
The board directed the administration to review NAPAC’s recommendations and to pursue collaborative steps to support American Indian students; staff noted that further work on curriculum and teacher development is expected as the district implements new state standards.
