Department of Diné Education reviews policies

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Board of Education reviewed the Rules and Procedures for Assumption of Navajo Grant/Contract Schools and directed the Department of Justice to review it during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009.

The need for such policies came about after discussions regarding Dilkon Community School, Inc., in October. The board had recommended to the Department of Diné Education that it start developing standards and policies for the assumption of contract/grant schools.

The board and DODE had worked on the rules and procedures throughout the first quarter, according to the DODE quarterly report.

DODE also presented a policy on licensing of grant and contract school administrators to the board during a regular board meeting.

The board also worked on the Enforcement of Compulsory School Attendance Laws with Interim Superintendent Delores McKerry. It is still finalizing the policy with DODE program directors and others.

The Board of Education set five goals for itself. The first goal is to conduct two work sessions per quarter with DODE to plan structure changes and complete the plan by the third quarter of the fiscal year.

Its second goal is to hold two work sessions per quarter with DODE and others to implement educational mandates for the Navajo Nation.

The third goal statement for the board is to hold an informal hearing every quarter at the five Navajo agencies to hear concerns on issues related to education and for public input on certain proposals.

The fourth goal of the board is to hold two work sessions per quarter to address corrective action, legislation, technical assistance for schools and other issues.

The board’s final goal is to report each quarter to the Education Committee.

The board also had a few discussions in the first quarter on the number of its authorized regular meetings and compensation rate. It passed a resolution requesting the Education Committee to amend the resolution dealing with those issues.