Plains schools review education laws

PLAINS – During their January meeting, the Plains School Board discussed their obligations to have a curriculum with Native American education at the school.

The board heard a presentation from the Northwest Education Curriculum Cooperative, the group the Plains schools are members of, as a way to refresh the members on their obligations to have certain things in the curriculum.

The presentation, called Indian Education for All, discussed the history of the state’s law, the school’s requirements and what resources were available for implementing everything.

“Mostly, it was to inform the board what the protocols that we already do at the school and remind them of what the state law is,” said Superintendent Thom Chisholm.

He noted the state of Montana requires schools teach Native American education. This was made into law in 2005 with the understanding of having the topics incorporated into the day-to-day lessons of the school; this, as opposed to teaching a day or two about the subjects and ignoring them the rest of the year.

“It needs to be an integral part, where every time there’s something relevant you bring it up, you discuss it,” Chisholm said. “That’s what we strive for here.”

Chisholm’s contract was also renewed during a closed session. His contract will now expire in the 2019-20 school year.