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Teachers and tribal members raise concerns over Native American Week planning and IEFA coordination
Summary
A teacher and enrolled tribal member told the board that Native American Week planning was last-minute, a powwow was postponed and Indian Education for All (IEFA) coordination needs clearer leadership while the district’s curriculum director position is vacant.
A Colstrip Public Schools teacher who also identified as an enrolled tribal member urged the board to improve planning and communications around Native American Week and compliance with Indian Education for All (IEFA).
The teacher said an August 30 request for plans went unanswered and that a powwow was postponed without advance notice to stakeholders. "I just want to express my disappointment with how Native American Week is handled," the teacher said, describing late emails, missing supplies and difficulty coordinating presenters across buildings.
Administrators responded that the district is temporarily delegating curriculum director duties to administrators until a new curriculum director arrives later in the month; they said spreadsheets and payment processes for presenters are being circulated and that building-level staff have been asked to list needs. The administration emphasized no intentional disrespect and attributed many problems to human-resource gaps while hiring is completed.
Next steps: administrators said they will continue to organize speakers and materials, ensure presenters are paid, and the incoming curriculum director will assume broader IEFA oversight when on staff.
