District highlights Native American Cultural Center, $15,000 grant and student engagement

During a public hearing on Native American education, district staff described development and programming at a new Native American Cultural Center and how a recent grant supported student services and cultural activities.

"We were approved for this grant, for $15,000... that funding went towards the cultural center," the district administrator said, outlining uses that included a 'fuel' center for students who miss breakfast, a refrigerator for hydration, furniture and materials for beading, sewing and painting projects.

Maria Sephorarez, the district’s Native American specialist, told the board the center now has roughly 35 members and has hosted activities including cultural week, a social dance and a college tour. "They really enjoyed that, and they got inspired to hopefully be able to 1 day host that for our elementary and middle school as well," she said.

Staff credited community partners — including the Golden Eagle Foundation — for supporting supplies and programming. Sephorarez said the center’s social-media presence and fundraising (for example, a t-shirt sale and a fry-bread sale) had helped underwrite activities and student outings.

The presentation reported participation tallies (monthly counts ranged in the 20s to 30s) and emphasized that the center provides a safe space and community for students: "I had 1 student who completely avoided anybody... he has now shined and grown so much because he said, I feel supported," Sephorarez said.

Administrators noted that Impact Aid and other grant funding are influenced by student counts; staff said they are working to sustain positions and programming despite an expected districtwide enrollment decline.

The board received the report as part of the public hearing and recessed back to the regular meeting without additional public comments. Staff said follow-up and parent-committee work will continue as they refine policies and procedures.