School board accepts Native American Parent Advisory Committee nonconcurrence; NAPAC urges work to close achievement gap

The South Saint Paul School Board on Feb. 24 voted 7-0 to accept a resolution notifying the board of a nonconcurrence vote by the Native American Parent Advisory Committee (NAPAC).

Amy Winter presented the NAPAC findings to the board, summarizing the committee's concerns after its annual review required by state guidance. "The NAPAC remains committed to addressing the persistent achievement gap between Native American students and their peers," Winter said, and the committee cited disparities in academic achievement, daily attendance and graduation rates. The committee also raised "a lack of accurate data collection in recent years" as a barrier to designing targeted interventions.

Winter told the board that NAPAC acknowledged some areas of improvement, including steps the district has taken on data collection, but that committee members voted to register formal nonconcurrence because gaps remain. She urged the board to commit to the recommendations the committee previously presented and to prioritize work that would close the achievement gap.

Board Chair Heumann thanked NAPAC members for their work and attendance; the board's unanimous acceptance is an acknowledgement of the committee's formal vote and does not by itself implement the recommendations.

Why it matters: The NAPAC represents a required, ongoing parent advisory process focused on Native American students; the committee's nonconcurrence signals continuing gaps that district leaders have said they intend to address.

Ending: The board accepted the committee vote and will incorporate NAPAC concerns into ongoing district planning and reporting.