District to add high-school ethnic studies course focused on Dakota and Anishinaabe with MDE grant support

The Kasson-Mantorville School Board heard that the district will add a high-school ethnic studies course next school year focused on Dakota and Anishinaabe peoples, a district staff member said during administrators’ reports. The staff member said the district applied for and was awarded a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education to support course development and resources.

Board members asked about instructional planning and community involvement. The staff member said the social studies department has been developing syllabus material and integrating local Native history and standards into the course. “The ethnic studies course will be focused on Dakota and Anishinaabe people,” the staff member said, and the district has sought grant funding to ensure additional development and classroom resources.

Board members followed with questions about how the new offering will be staffed and how the district will measure success. Administrators said the district plans to use the grant funds for curriculum development and teacher support; specific dollar amounts and grant conditions were described in the administrators’ packet and summarized for the board but detailed award language was not read aloud at the meeting.

Superintendent-level staff and administrators framed the course as aligning with recent statutory changes that allow or encourage ethnic studies offerings at the high-school level; board members said they value including local tribal histories and involving families in course rollout. The district’s staff said it will return to the board with more detailed curriculum materials and any required policy updates before students are enrolled.

The report was informational; no formal board action was taken on curriculum at this meeting. The board proceeded to other business and later approved several resolutions, including acceptance of gifts and grants.