The Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School on the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota is in need of replacement. Photo from NMAI
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing this afternoon on the Bureau of Indian Education. BIE Director Charles "Monty" Roessel offered a strong defense of the Obama administration's efforts to restructure the agency that oversees 185 schools in nearly two dozen states. When asked why recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office haven't been addressed, he said the goal is to reform the entire organization rather than implement piecemeal suggestions.
Indianz.Com SoundCloud: Oversight Hearing on Bureau of Indian Education: Examining Organizational Challenges in Transforming Educational Opportunities for Indian Children
Roessel also said the BIE needs $1.3 billion to replace or fix problems at the 68 highest-risk schools. Another $967 million is needed to reduce the existing repair and maintenance backlog. The hearing lasted an hour and 12 minutes. Audio can be found on the Indianz.Com SoundCloud. Committee Notice:
Oversight Hearing on "Bureau of Indian Education: Examining Organizational Challenges in Transforming Educational Opportunities for Indian Children." (May 13, 2015) White House Report:
2014 Native Youth Report (December 2014) Government Accountability Office Reports:
Further Actions on GAO Recommendations Needed to Address Systemic Management Challenges with Indian Education (April 22, 2015)
Bureau of Indian Education Needs to Improve Oversight of School Spending (November 13, 2014)
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