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American Indian Parent Advisory Committee reports on powwow participation, driver’s-ed assistance
Summary
Representatives of the district's American Indian Parent Advisory Committee updated the Big Lake board on cultural events and student supports, saying the committee funded or helped cover costs such as driver’s education and that powwow attendance was voluntary and often held on reservations; outreach is sometimes posted on social media.
The Big Lake Public School District’s American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (APAC) provided its annual update, telling the board the committee supports cultural events and helps students with costs such as driver’s education.
Committee representatives said APAC covered driver’s education costs for some students. Board members asked whether the committee’s support was primarily monetary or educational; the APAC representative said it included both, and confirmed the committee “will cover the cost.”
Board members asked about powwows the committee organizes or attends. The APAC representative said attendance is voluntary, that some powwows occur on tribal reservations (for example, Mille Lacs was cited) and that schools sometimes bring students to those events. Committee outreach and event notices have appeared on social media, and parents and staff asked whether events travel to different schools or how the broader student body might be invited to observe cultural activities.
Board members asked about metrics used to assess APAC programs. A board member asked whether the committee relies on parent-group feedback or student-specific metrics; the APAC representative and board discussed using parent feedback and planned student-facing activities but specific quantitative program metrics were not specified on the record.
No formal board action resulted from the discussion; the update was informational.
