Lakeville presentation outlines new state American Indian education aid, staffing and parent-advisory duties

Nicole Adams, director of integrated continuous improvement for Lakeville Area Schools, and Amy Gishmeier, the district—s American Indian education coordinator, briefed the Lakeville Area School Board on Feb. 11 about statewide changes to American Indian education funding and how the district is responding.

Adams said the May 2023 legislation converted long-standing optional grants into state aid and created new compliance and staffing rules for districts. "Do know that it is state aid," Adams told the board, explaining the funding is now formula-based and carries statutory conditions for how it may be used. The presenters described a base award and a per-pupil increment and said Minnesota Department of Education reporting drives the allocation.

The change matters because it requires dedicated staff, changes allowable spending and raises new reporting duties. Adams said districts with 100 or more state-identified American Indian students must employ at least one full- or part-time American Indian education program coordinator; the law also limits salary spending to no more than 50% of the American Indian…