The Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School on the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota is in need of replacement. Photo from NMAI

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing this afternoon on the Bureau of Indian Education.

BIE Director Charles "Monty" Roessel offered a strong defense of the Obama administration's efforts to restructure the agency that oversees 185 schools in nearly two dozen states. When asked why recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office haven't been addressed, he said the goal is to reform the entire organization rather than implement piecemeal suggestions.

Indianz.Com SoundCloud: Oversight Hearing on Bureau of Indian Education: Examining Organizational Challenges in Transforming Educational Opportunities for Indian Children

Roessel also said the BIE needs $1.3 billion to replace or fix problems at the 68 highest-risk schools. Another $967 million is needed to reduce the existing repair and maintenance backlog.

The hearing lasted an hour and 12 minutes. Audio can be found on the Indianz.Com SoundCloud.

Committee Notice:
Oversight Hearing on "Bureau of Indian Education: Examining Organizational Challenges in Transforming Educational Opportunities for Indian Children." (May 13, 2015)

White House Report:
2014 Native Youth Report (December 2014)

Government Accountability Office Reports:
Further Actions on GAO Recommendations Needed to Address Systemic Management Challenges with Indian Education (April 22, 2015)
Bureau of Indian Education Needs to Improve Oversight of School Spending (November 13, 2014)

Related Stories:
Witness list for SCIA's hearing on Bureau of Indian Education (5/12)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee sets meeting and hearing (5/11)
Lakota Country Times: Great Plains tribes blast changes at BIE (04/29)
House subcommittee looks at poor conditions at Indian schools (04/24)
Audio: House Appropriations Committee hearing on BIA budget (02/27)
Indian school construction put back on track with latest budget (02/03)
Investigation faults former BIE officials over handling of contract (12/08)
PBS: Interview with Secretary Jewell on BIE school reform plans (12/08)
President Obama makes Native youth a priority in administration (12/4)
VOA: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe focuses on education for youth (12/02)
Editorial: Indian schools deserve more federal and state funds (12/01)
Rishawn Biddle: Report confirms how BIE fails Indian children (11/18)
GAO report questions spending at Bureau of Indian Education (11/14)
HuffPo: Carri Jones and Chase Iron Eyes on Indian education (11/7)
Aging BIA school on Navajo Nation awaits replacement funds (10/22)
Jon Whirlwind Horse: New schools bring hope for Indian children (10/02)
Michael Gross: A new battle for self-determination at BIE schools (09/08)
Gerald Gipp: National strategy needed to reform Indian education (08/27)
Sandra Fox: Fixing the education system for our Indian children (08/20)
Secretary Jewell to visit Indian schools in Maine and Minnesota (08/15)
Charles Roessel: BIE reform plan includes teacher certification (07/28)
Carla Mann: Johnson O'Malley needs an accurate student count (07/16)
Reform plan urges billions for Bureau of Indian Education schools (07/09)
Blog: Questions about Bureau of Indian Education reform plans (06/27)
Secretary Jewell announces Bureau of Indian Education reform (06/16)