Navajo Council Naabik’iyati Committee is now on Legislation.
Without debate, the Naabik’iyati Committee voted 12 in favor, 1 opposed on Legislation 0342-14: Relating to Budget and Finance Committee, Resources and Development Committee, Naabik’iyati’ Committee and the Navajo Nation Council; Approving Supplemental Funding from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance in the Amount of $500,000 for Tonalea/Red Lake Chapter for Professional Technical Services and Demolition Project (Sponsor: Honorable Duane Tsinigine) (M) Katherine Benally (S) Walter Phelps.
Naabi is now on Legislation 0311-14 Relating to Health, Education and Human Services Committee and Naabikiyati Committee; Opposing the implementation of the Bureau of Indian Education Redesign and Requesting that the U.S. Department of Education approve the Navajo Nation alternative accountability workbook. Sponsor Delegate Jonathan Hale, which was Tabled and now under debate to for Naabi to vote to recall Tabling action and return to Naabi. Delegate Leonard Tsosie supports continued Tabling. Delegate Jonathan Hale opposes Tabling because 0311-14 is the Navajo Nation’s position of the realignment of schools on the Navajo Reservation. Hale notes that on Dec. 31, the Council, Naabi and all standing committees will cease to exist, along with all legislation.
Delegate Mel Begay reminds Naabi that they just accepted, after a very lengthy debate, a Report from the Navajo Nation Board of Education, which showed problems with the education of the children of the Navajo people. My constituents are very concerned.
Naabi votes 10 in favor, 3 opposed to recall 0311-14.
Delegate Jonathan Hale, who is Health, Education & Human Services Committee Chairperson, notes that the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education has a plan that they presented to Navajo Nation Board of Education and BIE Director Monty Roessell said the BIE realignment will go into effect.
And not every school failing. i have two schools that need help and I’ve asked to sit down with them to resolve problems. 0311-14 is the Navajo Nation’s plan for all BIE schools on the Navajo Reservation.
Yes, the next Council will inherit this. But I wanted the report from the Navajo Nation Board of Education so address, What is the significance of the Navajo Nation Board of Education? What are the bus issues?
COMMITTEE MEMBER/DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
it bothers me that with Grant Schools, that they accepted this but for BIE schools they don’t want. we need to make major education policy and it needs to be comprehensive. How are we going to hold federal government accountable for education of our children? This is just telling them that we don’t like it and go away. If we had our own plan, how is our’s any better. What credibility do we talk with if our numbers are just as low?
And i know we have laws that make Health, Education & Human Services Committee final on education except when involves federal government, which is why 0311-14 is here. But perhaps we should start recommending legislation to the next 23rd Council.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/DELEGATE DWIGHT WITHERSPOON
we are making political statement and making better position to meet with U.S. Department of Education. The BIE has no numbers behind their numbers. We are asserting because they took away funding from Navajo Reservation. They are supporting Regional Centers. we sued them to maintain number of ELOs. Navajo represents third of schools in country under BIE. We need your support to move to next discussion. I know Delegate Tsosie and it would have been nice to have had him at meeting with BIE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
We got no formal invitation to attend meeting with BIE at Navajo Department of Transportation. I’m only speaking on this issue because I represent so many children.
I wish I knew that federal educational dollars had been taken.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/HEALTH, EDUCATION & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON JONATHAN HALE
The meeting with BIE at NDOT was not organized by Health, Education & Human Services Committee. It was organized by the Navajo Department of Dine’ Education because of federal funds that go directly into their budgets without any middle people.
NAABI VOTES ON 0311-14, 9 IN FAVOR, 3 OPPOSED
It is now 5:52 p.m.
