American Indian Parent Advisory Committee votes 'non‑concurrence,' urges districtwide data and leadership accountability

The American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (APAC) presented its annual review to the Brainerd Public Schools Board and said it voted unanimously for non‑concurrence for the eighth consecutive year.

APAC representatives — including Michelle Berger and other community members — said the committee used the Minnesota Department of Education rubric to evaluate the district’s statutory responsibilities and concluded that prior recommendations were not meaningfully implemented. APAC asked the district to strengthen systems for district‑level attendance data broken down by race, to create a centralized process for reviewing law‑enforcement involvement in discipline incidents affecting Indigenous students, and to formalize leadership engagement in Indigenous community spaces. "APAC has again voted unanimously for non concurrence," a representative told the board.

The committee also asked that Indigenous Peoples Day curriculum be made more transparent across buildings and that student satisfaction data be regularly collected and reviewable by student group. APAC flagged ongoing family concerns about ICE that, they said, have not been met with a clear public district response. The group asked the district to document protocols that explain how families and students are being protected during school‑sponsored activities and transportation.

APAC reviewed last year’s recommendations and district responses, referencing a corrected MARS count last year and some corrective steps (including an annual data review meeting between Indigenous education staff and the MARS coordinator). The committee recommended that future district responses better reflect both policy and practice.

Procedural next steps: APAC representatives said they will sign the committee’s acknowledgment of the vote and submit it; the district has 60 days to respond and APAC noted an April 11 due date for the district reply. The board acknowledged the presentation and said staff will prepare the formal district response within the statutory timeline.

The board did not vote on APAC recommendations at this meeting; APAC’s presentation will be included in the district’s official response and administrative follow‑up.