Bemidji board approves two Ojibwe language teacher positions paid by state grant; board requires curriculum review

The Bemidji Public School District Board of Education on July 21 approved adding two full‑time licensed teacher positions to provide Ojibwe language instruction at Lincoln Elementary, JW Smith Elementary and Jean Dillon Elementary, funded entirely through a Native Language Revitalization grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.

Superintendent Olsen told the board the grant is a three‑year award; the district intends to hire in year two and reported there are "2 more years" remaining on the current grant term. Olsen said the positions are fully grant‑funded and "will not impact our general fund." He recommended the board approve the two FTE positions so the district can expand Ojibwe instruction at the three elementary schools.

Olsen and staff emphasized that the new teachers will develop curriculum, including a scope and sequence that the district currently lacks. Olsen proposed a monthly review process and said the board — which is responsible for approving district curriculum — will review the initial year’s curriculum when it is developed, after which the subject will move to the regular curriculum committee for ongoing oversight.

Board members questioned how the instruction would be scheduled and how it would affect time for music, art and physical education. A board member identified as Anna asked about the rotation and how often students would receive instruction during the school year; staff replied that Jean Dillon would operate on a trimester basis and that the teachers’ schedules would be created by backfilling time removed from rotation (including some library/media time) while preserving teacher prep time.

Several board members spoke in support of the positions, citing the large share of American Indian students in the district and the importance of language preservation. One board member expressed concern about further reductions to electives and potential future staffing cuts; Olsen reiterated the district’s position that the additions are budget neutral because they are grant funded and noted state officials indicated the grant may be renewable but offered no guarantee.

The motion to add two licensed Ojibwe language teacher FTEs passed with one opposed (voice vote recorded as "one opposed"). The board directed staff to bring the developed curriculum forward for board review during its monthly updates until the first year is implemented and then to the curriculum committee thereafter.

The hired teachers will be responsible for writing curriculum and a scope and sequence. Staff said the district will rely on content experts to develop materials and will report back to the board as the curriculum is drafted and piloted.