ISD 191 reports progress on American Indian Parent Advisory recommendations; cultural trunks, smudging guidance under way

Director Isis Buchanan presented the board with a progress report on the 2025 American Indian Parent Advisory Committee recommendations, outlining concrete steps the district has taken in curriculum, staffing and cultural programming.

Buchanan said the district implemented real‑time data monitoring using EduCLIMBER so staff in the Indian Education program are alerted when disciplinary or academic thresholds are crossed. "We've implemented data walls with our data system EduCLIMBER," she said, describing the change as a way to ensure a culturally informed voice is at the table when students need additional support.

On cultural observances and curriculum, Buchanan said the district revised Indigenous Peoples' Day lessons, coordinated communications so all school sites share event information, and strengthened partnerships with local tribal nations and organizations for classroom and community activities. She also reported review and alignment of policy 419 to Minnesota statutes to support smudging practices and said each building now has smudge kits and identified spaces or processes for smudging when programming allows.

Buchanan highlighted a Minnesota Humanities Center grant that funded a year‑long "cultural trunk" project of artifacts, lessons and videos to be used by teachers across grade levels. "This is our most exciting project," she said, explaining trunks will include grade‑level lessons aligned to state standards and be available for teacher training and community use with a planned 2026 launch and teacher training over the summer.

Trustees and the student representative asked logistical questions about smudging implementation (training of supervising staff and storage of materials), and about how outreach to virtual families has increased participation at in‑person events. Buchanan said the district is using existing counseling and liaison staff (including members of the DreamCatcher team) as a practical staffing approach while continuing to recruit and train staff with relevant cultural expertise.

Buchanan closed by noting the facility‑name review has been moved into the district's long‑term facilities planning process to allow fiscal and community engagement planning to proceed in parallel. A full report is included in the board packet.