Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cherokee Nation council receives education reports; approves meeting minutes
Summary
Councilors received reports on vocational programs, Education office deadlines and events, Head Start facility plans, and Sequoia High School academics; the council approved prior meeting minutes and then adjourned by voice vote.
At a Cherokee Nation council education session (date not specified in the record), councilors heard a series of routine education reports from staff and program representatives and approved the minutes from the prior meeting by voice vote.
The reports covered vocational training placements and an upcoming move of a learning center; spring application deadlines and outreach events from the Education office; Head Start staff visits to a new Tahlequah facility and recent supervisor leadership training; and an update on Sequoia High School academics and activities. No new policy votes or funding decisions were recorded during the session.
Executive Director Diane Kelly, who presented the vocational programs report, highlighted a recent graduate, Lawson Wilkie, who completed aviation mechanic training and is now working for American Airlines. Kelly said the learning center currently across from Human Resources will move to the EverRise building in the industrial park, with the relocation planned “the end of this month, the February” (date not specified). Kelly’s remarks were presented as information; no action was taken on the move during the meeting.
Mark Vance, presenting the Education office report, told councilors that spring renewal applications are open through Jan. 17 and that the high-school concurrent enrollment deadline is the same date. He said college fair dates and other event details would be emailed to council members. Vance listed planned outreach events, including a session at NEO A&M in Miami (date details to be emailed) and an event at the Greenwood Culture Center in Tulsa on Feb. 27; he also said a “bridal consultation” (an annual program review meeting) will be held Feb. 19 at CHOTA with a virtual follow-up on Feb. 26. A superintendent meeting in March was mentioned; Vance said the exact date would be emailed to council members.
Head Start representative Verna Thompson reported that staff toured the new Children’s Village facility in Tahlequah and that employees were “amazed” by the space; she said the program hopes to open at the new site at the start of the next school year but did not provide a firm opening date. Thompson also encouraged other departments to consider recent supervisor leadership training, which some Head Start supervisors completed in December, and thanked staff for participating in an early childhood appreciation event.
Aaron Emberton, standing in for Sequoia High School Superintendent Eustace, summarized academic programming at Sequoia, noting coursework that includes historical lessons (including treaties), cultural activities and cooking classes. Emberton also referenced recent basketball tournament play; he offered to relay any council questions back to the superintendent and school administration.
Brooke Neff, standing in for Ms. Randall of the Cherokee Nation Foundation, said she would take questions back to the foundation; no substantive questions were raised during the meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of prior meeting minutes — Motion and second recorded; voice vote with all in favor; motion passes (no individual vote tally recorded). - Motion to adjourn — Motion and second recorded; voice vote with all in favor; meeting adjourned.
The meeting record shows limited discussion and few council questions overall. Several scheduling items and event dates were noted as forthcoming by email rather than finalized in the session.
