Bemidji board approves two grant-funded Ojibwe language teacher FTEs after questions about scheduling and curriculum

The Bemidji Public School District board approved a request on July 21 to add two full-time licensed Ojibwe-language teacher positions funded by a Minnesota Department of Education native language revitalization grant.

Superintendent and staff said the grant is a three-year award; staff indicated two years remain in the current cycle and noted an expected renewal process. The positions would expand Ojibwe instruction at Lincoln Elementary, JW Smith Elementary and Jean Dillon Elementary. Staff said the positions are fully grant-funded and therefore will not affect the district’s general fund.

Staff explained the new teachers will develop curriculum (scope and sequence does not yet exist) and recommended monthly curriculum reviews by the board while the first-year curriculum is developed; after full implementation, the curriculum would move to the district curriculum committee for routine review.

Board members asked how the program would be scheduled and whether it would reduce time for library media, music, art or physical education. Staff said the teachers would operate on a rotation and the district would backfill some previously reduced library/media time; they emphasized the effort is intended to be budget-neutral. One board member expressed concern about potential further reductions to electives; another member emphasized the value of early-language learning and the high percentage (27%) of American Indian students in the district.

The board voted to add the two FTEs; the voice vote recorded one opposed and the motion carried.