APAC votes 'nonconcurrence' on Cloquet district plans; board accepts documentation and begins 60‑day response
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Summary
The American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (APAC) voted nonconcurrence on several district goals, citing gaps in data, language and cultural programming, and access to opportunities; the board accepted the committee's compliance document and outlined steps for a response within 60 days.
Shannon Roy, chair of the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee, told the Cloquet Public School District board the committee voted "nonconcurrence" on the district's annual compliance documents, citing four main concerns: graduation data and access to opportunities, an unclear plan to close the academic achievement gap, underdeveloped intercultural-awareness objectives for middle school students, and shortfalls in Anishinaabe language and cultural education, particularly at elementary and middle school levels.
"Only 30% of American Indian students are being served and statewide assessment data is currently unavailable for evaluation," Roy said, and the committee provided a written set of 12 specific recommendations, including hiring Ojibwe language and cultural teachers and creating dedicated K–12 class time for language instruction. Roy also said roughly $43,000 of APAC program funds—about 52% of the current year's allocation for the program—went back to the state unused last year.
Theresa Engle, identified in roll call as the district's director of American Indian education, told the board the district had provided committee members with k–12 data where available and explained some goals were written around MCA (state standardized) measures that are not available for review at the February meeting. "We provided a snapshot of middle-school reading data," Engle said, adding that the committee had access to prior-year standardized testing and other school-level data but that some k–12 figures were not yet finalized.
Board members discussed the next steps: under state statute the district has 60 days to provide a written response to the APAC committee. The superintendent said administration would work with Engle and the APAC to identify high-impact, implementable recommendations and return a recommended response for board review before the 60-day deadline.
The board voted to accept the APAC compliance documents as submitted; members framed the vote as an administrative acceptance that begins the formal response timeline rather than as immediate policy changes. The board and administration emphasized the advisory role of APAC and said they would work collaboratively on measurable goals and incorporate committee input as feasible.
The board directed administration to consult Minnesota's state Indian education department as needed and to return recommendations to the board for approval within the statutory timeframe.
