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Staff member outlines Title VI grant hearing as Native American liaison plans to depart
Summary
At the April 13 meeting, Mrs. Olsen summarized the district’s Title VI grant public hearing, said last year’s award was $16,675 and the current grant amount is not yet finalized, and reported Native American liaison Trinity Red Day will leave at the end of the school year; administrators said they will seek a replacement and use grant funds for programming.
During the visitors-to-be-heard segment on April 13, Mrs. Olsen (district staff member) presented an informational Title VI grant public hearing required for the district’s federal grant application. She told the board that last year the district received $16,675 and that this year’s figure is not yet finalized: "Last year they granted us $16,675. So I'm assuming it'll probably be somewhere around that same dollar amount," she said, and added that district administrators (Kevin, Damon and she) will allocate funds across salary, out-of-district performers, student consumables, activities and professional development.
Mrs. Olsen also announced that Trinity Red Day, the district’s Native American liaison who coordinated programming with the University of South Dakota, will leave at the end of the school year. "She has taken on a program at USD, so she'll be leaving us at the end of the school year," Mrs. Olsen said, and administrators said they will begin recruiting for a replacement to maintain partnerships and programming for drummers, artists and cultural activities.
Board members asked about the form known as the "506" that documents tribal affiliation; Mrs. Olsen said the district received fewer 506 forms this year (down from 73 to 66) and that staff believe the decline is largely due to student moves in and out of the district, although the district does not have a definitive explanation for all missing forms. When asked whether the expected Title VI money is federal or state funding, the response was: "Federal." (question and answer exchanged in the hearing.)
Mrs. Olsen said the grant also funded classroom books (kindergarten–second grade buffalo-themed books used across lessons) and will help sustain programs such as drummers at graduation. Administrators reminded the public that no action would be taken at the meeting; the hearing was informational as part of the grant process.
Next steps: administrators will continue budget work and recruitment for the liaison position; the grant amount will be finalized as federal awards are announced.
