PREPARED STATEMENT of Ken L. SMITH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present our policy on the operation of off-reservation boarding schools. I will also address in particular our planned closure of three schools: Wahpeton at North Dakota; Concho at Concho, Oklahoma; and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute at Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Education Programs, is presently operating 10 off-reservation boarding schools. Two of these schools, Concho and Wahpeton-the last two remaining elementary boarding BIA schools—are slated for closure at the end of the 1981-82 school year. In addition, we also plan to close the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. Two other schools— Intermountain and Mt. Edgecumbe are scheduled to close at the end of the 1982-83 school year. For fiscal year 1982, necessary actions are already under way regarding the closure of Concho and Wahpeton. Implementation plans include notification of tribes, parents, and the employees union (NFFE). Priority placement of students is also being planned. Memoranda covering the plans for the closing of Wahpeton and Concho are attached. The factors considered in the proposed closure of SIPI were developed by a program analysis which revealed that alternative, more economical opportunities for similar vocational education courses are now available for some Native Americans in their local communities due to the recently implemented Tribally Controlled Community College Act. Eighteen such colleges are proposed for funding under the Act in fiscal year 1983 with several other Tribal Colleges in developmental stages. (The typical Tribally Controlled Community College Curriculum offers a substantial range of vocational technical training opportunities.) Haskell Indian Junior College (HIJC) continues to offer some vocational training courses and additional technical courses will be added on a needs basis. It is anticipated that HIJC will be able to accommodate more applicants in the vocational technical field within their estimated enrollment for fiscal year 1983 by exercising more selectivity in approving students. Similar training opportunities are also being offered through the Employment Assistance and Job Training-Placement Program of the Bureau. Training opportunities are offered at locations on or near reservations rather than at remote urban location centers which has characterized most of the training of this program in the past. The unit cost of operating an institution to offer duplicative type vocational courses is considered not to be cost effective. Therefore, it is proposed to close out the academic programs at SIPI in fiscal year 1982. Alternative uses for this facility are being considered, and the facility will be utilized in fiscal year 1983. A decision has been made not to admit freshmen at Intermountain and Mt. Edgecumbe in fiscal year 1983. This decision is being transmitted to the appropriate Area Education Program Administrator, and the tribes should receive similar notification no later than March 1, 1982. A thorough review will be completed of the remaining six boarding schools in fiscal year 1982 and there will be an opportunity for all tribes to respond to any proposed policy changes regarding boarding schools. This should be completed by May 1, 1982. In fiscal year 1983, implementation plans for the closure of Mt. Edgecumbe and Intermountain will be completed and disseminated to proper officials as early in the school year as possible. November 1, 1982 is the anticipated deadline. Analysis of the boarding school population is expected to be completed and proposals made for additional closures effective in fiscal year 1984 (the 1983-84 school year). The following time frame is recommended for boarding school phase-out if all boarding schools are eventually to be closed: Phase I (To close at the end of the 1981-82 school year) Concho, Wahpeton. Phase II: (To close at the end of the 1982-83 school year) Intermountain, Mt. Edgecumbe. Phase III (To close at the end of the 1983-84 school year) Sequoyah, Flandreau. Phase IV: (To close at the end of the 1984-85 school year) Phoenix. Phase V: (To remain open until such time that other alternatives are available to meet needs of children in ORBS) Chemawa, Riverside, Sherman. This recommendation is based on many factors. However, a prime consideration is the condition of the facilities. The placement of students must be the primary consideration in any closure process. The following analysis is an estimate: If these three remaining schools close, the assumption would be that the vast majority of the students would go to public schools. Some students would have BIA day or contract schools available in their home areas and would attend them. The analysis assumes that all the children attending a particular off-reservation boarding school will go to another school and that the majority of the displaced students would attend public schools. However, a large number of students are social referrals and do not have parents and/or homes which would afford them the opportunity to attend day schools. As an example of "social referrals." approximately 250 pupils up to 15 years old and from 13 different reservations attend Wahpeton Indian School. Eightyfive percent of these pupils were referred to this school for what the Bureau of Indian Affairs terms "social reasons." These include chronic truancy in other school systems, single parents unable to provide a minimally secure home environment, and delinquents attending in accordance with court orders. It is true that Bureau, and in some instances, public agency social workers, will need to work diligently to obtain and subsequently supervise alternative placements for those children who cannot return to their own families. It is also true that many children who can return home will need social services follow-up visits in order to facilitate child and family adjustment. Until a firm plan is made for each child in need of alternate placement, it is not possible for us to provide a related placement cost estimate. This is because the needs of and resources available to each child must be individually reviewed and a decision made as to a return home or a placement elsewhere. Another very important consideration is the problems which have confronted Indian children in public schools. According to a 1978 survey of off-reservation boarding schools, at least 70 percent of the students enrolled in these schools have previously been enrolled in public schools. Tribal contract schools-as they increase in number and develop quality programs will, in time, provide more viable alternatives and lessen the need for boarding schools. It is our intention that in accordance with the Office of Indian Education Programs policies (25 CFR Part 31a), tribal consultation will be carried out as fully as possible. Because the decision to phase out off-reservation boarding school programs would impact most tribes, we plan to conduct field hearings in the most heavily impacted areas with any proposed changes to be provided in writing for tribal comment. This concludes my prepared statement. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Indian Education Code 504 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C., February 3, 1982. MEMORANDUM To: Director, Office of Indian Education Program, Anadarko Area Director; Anadarko Area Education Program Administrator, Muskogee Area Director. From: Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs (Operations). Subject: Closure of Concho Boarding School. The closure of Concho Boarding School is scheduled for completion by June 15, 1982. Accordingly, you are directed to take the following actions: I. Concerning the student enrollment: 1. Parents of Indian students attending Concho will be notified by the Anadarko Area Education Program Administrator that the schood will close at the end of May 1982. Such notification shall be made to parents and guardians, in writing, no later than March 1, 1982 and shall include other educational alternatives available to students. 2. Students at Concho shall be given priority placement at other Bureau schools in accordance with the expressed preferences of parents and guardians. 3. The Anadarko Area Education Office shall develop by February 26, 1982 a student transfer plan. Such a plan is to include the stated preferences of students, parents and guardians, plans for the transfer of records to the target school, and provision for the necessary social services for those students and families requiring them. 4. The Anadarko Area Education Office will report to the Director, Office of Indian Education Programs on a bi-monthly basis (every two weeks), beginning March 15, 1982, on the placement of students. This report will show the number of students in the following placement categories: a. other BIA schools, b. public schools, c. peripheral dorms, d. contract or parochial schools, e. "other," f. unaccounted for. 5. Social workers from the local BIA Social Services will work directly with families in making satisfactory plans for the students. This may include assistance in helping the family and the student make the necessary adjustment when the student is returned to the home or in the placement of the student in a foster home. 6. Students will be encouraged to enroll in schools in their home communities whenever possible in keeping with Bureau policy but assistance will be given to those who require another Bureau residential school or a dormitory placement. 7. The Anadarko Area Education Office will work closely with the target public schools in the area. 8. When indicated, consideration will be given to boarding schools outside the State of Oklahoma. II. Concerning Personnel: 1. The Muskogee Area Personnel Office shall develop, by March 15, 1982, an action plan which will include the following: a. A memo to the Office of Indian Education Programs requesting authority to conduct a total reduction-in-force for the Concho Indian School. This is to be sent by March 15, 1982. b. A letter of notification of a reduction-in-force to be issued to all employees by March 30, 1982. c. The Competitive Area for the RIF shall be the Concho Indian School. d. A schedule of meetings with the Personnel Officer from Muskogee Area Placement Office and Union Officials. e. Assistance to employees in finding new employment. f. Counseling of employees concerning RIF procedures, both individually and in groups depending on the need. Action plan must include provisions, including the names of personnel who will conduct the sessions, for presentations on the following topics: (1) Reduction-In-Force Procedures (2) Displaced Employee Program (3) Health Insurance (4) Life Insurance (5) Injury Compensation Benefits (6) Leave (7) Moving Expenses (8) Pay: Compensatory Time, Annual Leave Lump Sum payment, etc. (9) Reinstatement in the Federal Service (10) Retirement-Optional, Disability, Early-Out, etc. (12) Unemployment Compensation 2. The action plan shall call for the placement or separation of all employees by June 15, 1982. 3. The Union is to be kept informed on all actions. As soon as the authority for the RIF is received by the Area, the Union shall be notified and given time for comment. 4. The Concho School will make available to all employees all possible resources to aid in their efforts to seek new employment. These should include: a. Typist to assist with preparation of SF-171's for other employment. b. Reproduction equipment to make copies of applications for employees. c. Access to telephone to call personnel staff in the Area Office relative to personnel matters, d. Permission for visits to the Area Office relative to personal matters when such a visit is considered essential. III. Concerning academic, recreation, dormitory, kitchen, farm and maintenance property, equipment and supplies: 1. At Concho, first priority shall be given to distribution on a need basis to the remaining schools administered by the Anadarko Area Education Office. 2. Second priority should be given to distribution to those schools administered by the Muskogee Area Education Office. Third priority shall be given to Bureau schools in other areas. All remaining property, equipment and supplies determined excess or surplus should be disposed of through established procedures to other Federal agencies, or the general public per 41 CFR Chapter 101, Subchapter H, and implementing Departmental and Bureau directives. 3. Property, equipment and supplies needed to maintain Concho until final disposition should be made per the above priorities. IV. Concerning remaining student activities funds: For Concho, these funds should be distributed to the Riverside Boarding School. V. Concerning FY 1982 IMPL funds : For Concho the funds may be used for maintenance and security until final distribution is made of real property and facilities. VI. Concerning any existing livestock and crops: These should be disposed of according to applicable procedures for public sale and the proceeds, if any, deposited into accounts from which originally acquired or into the U.S. Treasury's miscellaneous account, if originaly acquired with appropriated funds. The Muskogee Area Director will ensure that adequate and timely notice of public sales are provided to appropriate officials of the various tribes. VIII. Concerning real property: All real property at Concho shall be disposed of through the Andarko and Muskogee Area Directors in accordance with applicable Federal, Departmental, and Bureau property management regulations and directives. VIII. Concerning implementing closure actions: 1. The Director of Indian Education Programs and the Anadarko Area Education Program Administrator are responsible for the programmatic aspects of closure including the transfer of students and the equitable distribution of student activity funds. 2. The Anadarko and Muskogee Area Directors and the Director of Indian Education Programs will appoint one official to coordinate all activities associated with the school closure and related property and other resource dispositions. One official at the Washington Office location of the Office of Indian Education Programs and one from the Bureau of Indian Affairs is also designated to provide Central Office coordination. A listing of the designees appears at the end of this memo. 3. By May 15, 1982, a detailed Facility Management Plan must be submitted to the OIEP. This must include (as a minimum): a. a determination of who will receive the property after closure and how long the government needs to maintain the property before it is released to the new owner. b. provision for maintenance of grounds after school is closed. c. provision for winterizing the buildings (if the government maintains control of the property into the fall and winter months). d. provision for boarding up windows to prevent vandalism. e. provision for night watchmen to prevent vandalism and fire. f. provision of maintenance foreman and maintenance man position until the property is relinquished. g. provision for keeping all equipment used for facility management until the final disposition of the property. Education CONTACT POINTS FOR THE CLOSURE OF CONCHO Responsible Persons: I. Director's Office.-S. Gabe Paxton, Jr., Acting Director, OIEP. II. Anadarko Area Education Office.-Dan Sahmaunt, Anadarko Area Education Program Administrator. Bureau of Indian Affairs I. Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs (Operations).-Charles Carter, Chief, Property Management. II. Anadarko Area Office.-Area Property and Supply Officer. III. Muskogee Area Office.—Area Property and Supply Officer, Area Personnel Officer. Indian Education Code 504 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C., February 3, 1982. MEMORANDUM To: Director, Office of Indian Education Programs, Aberdeen Area Director; Aberdeen Area Education Program Administrator. From: Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs (Operations). Subject: Closure of Wahpeton Boarding School. The closure of Wahpeton Boarding School is scheduled for completion by June 15, 1982. Accordingly, you are directed to take the following actions: I. Concerning the student enrollment: 1. Parents of Indian students attending Wahpeton will be notified by the Aberdeen Area Education Program Administrator that the school will close at the end of May 1982. Such notification shall be made to parents and guardians, in writing, no later than March 1, 1982 and shall include other educational alternatives available to students. 2. Students at Wahpeton shall be given priority placement at other Bureau schools in accordance with the expressed preferences of parents and guardians. 3. The Aberdeen Area Education Office shall develop by February 26, 1982 a student transfer plan. Such a plan is to include the stated preferences of students, parents and guardians, plans for the transfer of records to the target school and provision for the necessary social services for those students and families requiring them. 4. The Aberdeen Area Education Office will report to the Director, Office of Indian Education Programs on a bimonthly basis (every two weeks), beginning March 15, 1982, on the placement of students. This report will show the number of students in the following placement categories: a. other BIA schools, b. public schools, c. peripheral dorms, d. contract or parochial schools, e. "other," f. unaccounted for. 5. Social workers from the local BIA Social Services will work directly with families in making satisfactory plans for the students. This may include assistance in helping the family and the student make the necessary adjustment when the student is returned to the home or in the placement of the student in a foster home. 6. Students will be encouraged to enroll in schools in their home communities whenever possible in keeping with Bureau policy but assistance will be given to those who require another Bureau residential school or a dormitory placement. |