La Conner School Board members unanimously approved a $75,412 Title VI Grant proposal through the Office of Indian Education during a brief meeting on May 5.
The federal funding is intended to support indigenous language, culture, and science classes, provide for coordination with Migrant Education programs, enhance community connection and cultural engagement, and support attendance and graduation initiatives.
At La Conner, specific funding priorities are Lushootseed language and Between Two Worlds secondary indigenous science classes.
“If there’s enough money,” said La Conner Schools Superintendent David Cram, “we’d like to extend these programs to the lower grades.”
District Director of Teaching & Learning Beth Clothier said the Title VI monies also help pay Swinomish certified teachers.
“The grant is fairly guaranteed,” she said. “I don’t know of a time when we didn’t have our application approved.”
The Title VI program is collaborative, with La Conner Schools regularly seeking input from a local Native American Parent Advisory Committee (NAPAC).
“I believe,” Clothier said,” that the (grant) application process is to ensure that we have and can demonstrate partnership with the families of our Native students, which we do through monthly NAPAC meetings to advise us how we direct those funds.”
Bill Reynolds: bill@laconnercommunitynews.org. Bill is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
