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American Indian Parent Advisory Committee issues concurrence; urges department recognition, calls for staffing and literacy focus
Summary
APAC presented a resolution of concurrence for the district's American Indian Education Aid Plan for 2025–26, noted progress (including hiring a Dakota language teacher) and recommended formal structural recognition and increased staffing to address literacy and disproportionate discipline.
Representatives of the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee presented their annual resolution of concurrence for the district’s American Indian Education Aid Plan and highlighted progress and remaining gaps.
Ethan Nirdals, coordinator of Indian Education, opened the presentation and introduced APAC co‑chairs and other committee members. An APAC speaker noted that on Jan. 20, 2026 the committee voted to issue a resolution of concurrence for the 2025–26 school year. The presentation cited Minnesota Statute 124D.78, which requires districts serving 10 or more American Indian students to establish an American Indian parent advisory committee. APAC praised the hiring of a Dakota language teacher and cross‑department partnerships (Title I, Talented and Gifted, Early Childhood Family Education), and recommended the district consider recognizing American Indian Education as a formal department to align structure with statutory responsibilities and program size.
APAC also identified areas needing continued attention—culturally responsive literacy supports, early intervention, disproportionate discipline and additional staffing for students receiving special education services—and called for direct reinvestment of district trust land revenues into American Indian education programming.
Board members thanked APAC for the work and indicated interest in further work sessions to explore vision and staffing.
