Parents seek answers on school's Indian education program

Friday, June 10, 2011  

Parents in Minnesota say they are being kept in the dark about a public school district's Indian education program.

Funding for the St. Francis School District 15 program was suspended after officials said there was a problem with the Indian student count. That was in December, and parents who serve on the Indian education committee say they have been unable to resolve any issues.

"It’s the same run around I’ve has always gotten as an Indian," parent Tricia Daniels told ABC Newspapers. They are hoping we will go away. It’s not going to happen.”

The district received $22,998 in federal funding for the 2011-2012 budget. That comes to about $249 for each of the 92 Indian students.

The figure was a surprise even to Dennis Sargent, who runs the program. “I have never knew what the yearly grant amount was,” he told the paper.

In addition to funding concerns, parents want an updated curriculum that includes tribes in Minnesota. They say teachers are relying on outdated books and aren't given training on Indian issues.

Parent Robert Desjarlait said one teacher insisted that her son was "Chippewa" after he told teacher that he was Ojibwa.

Get the Story:
American Indian parents seek answers from District 15 (ABC Newspapers 6/10)