{"id":39074,"date":"2025-08-08T12:12:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T17:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/crisis-threatens-montana-reservation-schools\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T12:12:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T17:12:04","slug":"crisis-threatens-montana-reservation-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/crisis-threatens-montana-reservation-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Crisis threatens Montana reservation schools"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Lame<\/a><\/p>\n

Lame Deer High School in Lame Deer Montana on the NorthernCheyenne Indian Reservation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This article is pieced together from a variety of sources involved in the public educational system who admit to \u201cbeing in the dark\u201d about a recent list of Montana public schools which are on a Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Designation recently. A fact sheet was recently released by the MT Office of Public Instruction (OPI), listing those schools which are seriously deficient in student test scores. This problem must be addressed and hopefully remedied by the named schools in the very near future.<\/p>\n

The document lists 45 schools in which students are below proficiency in reading and math. The 29 schools that are on or near Montana Indian Reservations include; Ashland Public (grades 7-8) located next to the Northern Cheyenne; Box Elder (7-12) and Barbara Gilligan School at and Plenty Coups High at Crow; Fort Belknap; Brockton Elementary, Browning Elementary, Brockton High; Bab; Browning Elementary; Nap School and Browning High on the Blackfeet Reservation; Dodson located near Fort Belknap Reservation; Frazer located at Fort Peck ; Harlem Elementary and Hays-lodge pole at Fort Belknap; Hardin High school at Crow; Lame Deer 7-12) at Northern Cheyenne; Lodge Grass High School at Crow; 6-6 School and Poplar High at Fort Peck; Arrow Creek Elementary, Pryor (7-8) and Plenty Coups High at Crow; Rocky (7-8) at Rocky Boy; Pablo Elementary at Flathead; Valier High at Browning; Wolf Point (7-8) and Wolf Point High at Poplar and Wyola School at Crow.<\/p>\n

This information was first provided to Norma Bixby, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Higher Education Director while she was on trip for another matter, meeting with OPI officials. \u201cIt is very alarming,\u201d she explained when alerting NSNT to this development. \u201cIf something isn\u2019t done, the schools could lose accreditation which would be a disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the meantime, according to Robert McLean, former Lame Deer Schools Superintendent and current member of the Board of Trustees, the Board has not received any notification or information about this development and what action will be required. A veteran educator, he said that loss of accreditation is not likely, but possible. \u201cWe do need to improve,\u201d he acknowledged and we need community support to address problems that lead to low test scores such as poor attendance.\u201d He also noted that the Board has secured a \u201ccoach\u201d to redesign a struggling school, and is working to re-establish a Truant Officer\u2019s position, now vacant. \u201cI\u2019ll say for sure that OPI has not been very forthcoming, but they usually aren\u2019t.\u201d Mclean summarized.<\/p>\n

He recalled that during his tenure as Superintendent, OPI provided about 3.5 million in funding to Lame Deer School to help improve test scores. \u201cThe scores actually went down\u201d McClean ironically explained. \u201cWhat was missing was community support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another educational professional who does not wish to be named in this article said that the same thing is going on all across America, but is particularly troublesome to schools with native populations. \u201cTest scores are only a snap-shot in time,\u201d she explained, \u201cbut drive the whole system. It is very difficult challenge for schools that serve primarily Natives. It is even worse in Alaska where I spent a great deal of my educational career.\u201d<\/p>\n

As this article is penned, very few know about this recent development, including the Board of Trustees, but those who do know are extremely concerned. \u201cIf we lose accreditation we might as well shut the doors,\u201d one Board member commented.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, the Superintendent of Lame Deer Schools, key staff and perhaps school board members will be meeting with OPI officials later in August to present an improvement plan and learn what else might be necessary for OPI school standards. The odds appear favorable that the affected schools will be given some time \u2013 perhaps the next academic year to implement a plan which will raise test scores. Such a plan has apparently been in the development stage at Lame Deer for some time, the need to finalize it now urgent.<\/p>\n

Officials from OPI could either not be reached for comment or declined to discuss the matter. According to OPI policies inquiry are to be referred to the organizations public relations staff. As of press time, that call was not returned.<\/p>\n

In many ways, Lame Deer Public school struggles. In the area, several schools compete for student enrollment including Colstrip, St. Labre, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Schools at Busby, Hardin, Ashland Public and even off-reservation schools. Ashland Public, however has already decided to curtail 7-8 education as a result of this development.<\/p>\n

The educational expert who advised on this article bluntly stated the problem: \u201cAll the schools like to get the Reservation students for the money.\u201d As this drama unfolds, NSNT will keep our readers updated.<\/p>\n

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennereview@gmail.com)<\/span><\/p>\n

The post Crisis threatens Montana reservation schools<\/a> first appeared on Native Sun News Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Visit Original Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Lame Deer High School in Lame Deer Montana on the NorthernCheyenne Indian Reservation. This article is pieced together from a variety of sources involved in the public educational system who admit to \u201cbeing in the dark\u201d about a recent list of Montana public schools which are on a Comprehensive Support <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a>
Shared by Native Sun News Today<\/a> August 8, 2025<\/p>\n

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