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2026-3-12 IPAC Meeting Minutes

2026-3-12 IPAC Meeting Minutes

Seattle Public Schools Native Education
Title Vl, Indian Parent Advisory Committee (IPAC)
Teams Meeting
Thursday, March 12, 2026
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

In attendance: IPAC Leadership & Members Present

  • Trina Nonis, President
  • Jason Smith, Vice President
  • Blaine Parce, Parent
  • Danielle Vaillancourt, Teacher Representative
  • Donna Hale – Wolcott, Member at Large
  • Tonia Galindo, Member at Large

Seattle Public Schools Staff Present

  • Georgina Badoni, Native Education Programming Manager
  • Kymberly Hogan, Title VI Coordinator
  • Victoria Hildebrand, Consulting Teacher
  • Beverly Redmond, Chief of Staff & Head of Communications

Special Guest

Benjamin Shuldiner, Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes: Approval of January and February 2026 meeting minutes was postponed due to difficulty locating the documents during the meeting. Minutes to be reviewed and approved at a future meeting.

Superintendent Update and Discussion: Benjamin Shuldiner addressed the committee and participated in a question‑and‑answer discussion.

  • Commitment to transparency, communication, and community engagement
  • District financial challenges (approximately $100 million deficit)
  • Trust issues between schools, families, and central office
  • Option schools and access limitations for families
  • Special education service inconsistencies
  • Implementation challenges with district‑mandated curricula, including John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial
  • Continued presence at community and advisory meetings
  • Willingness to receive direct communication regarding student and school concerns
  • Support for Native Education programming within current district constraints

Native Education Program Update: Georgina Badoni

  • Submission of Title VI Grant Application – Part 1
  • Planning timeline for Part 2 (due in May)
  • Upcoming government‑to‑government meetings with:
    • Muckleshoot Tribe
    • Suquamish Tribe
  • Continued coordination with tribal partners and community organizations

Title VI and Native Education Data & Funding: Kymberly Hogan

  • Approximately 1,100 Native/Alaska Native students enrolled districtwide
  • 425 students eligible for Title VI funding
  • Decline from prior year enrollment numbers
  • Impact of housing costs and displacement on Native families
  • Federal eligibility restrictions for Title VI funding
  • Ongoing need for outreach and support with 506 forms
  • Importance of principal and school‑based support for 506 completion
  • Leveraging existing district staff and communication resources
  • Continued collaboration between Native Education and central office

Curriculum Implementation and Training:

  • Inconsistent implementation of John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial across schools
  • Lack of accountability measures compared to other subject areas
  • Need for principal‑level training and monitoring
  • Inclusion of Native Education curriculum in School Leader Institute (SLI)
  • Exploration of ongoing, modular professional development
  • Collaboration with Curriculum & Instruction departments

High School Graduation Concerns:Trina Nonis

  • 43 seniors with 506 forms on file
  • 14 seniors identified as at risk of not graduating
  • 9 juniors and 13 sophomores below a 2.0 GPA
  • Urgency of support for seniors approaching graduation
  • Effectiveness and accountability of the High School Graduation Coordinator role
  • Need for coordinated intervention with counselors and school leadership
  • District leadership acknowledged concerns
  • Matter identified as both a student‑services priority and a personnel issue
  • Commitment to ensuring students receive immediate support through multiple channels

Huchoosedah (Native Education) Logo and Branding – Initial Discussion

  • Current logo dates to the 1970s and is no longer usable in modern formats
  • Desire to modernize while honoring cultural meaning

Initial Direction

  • Solicit design ideas from IPAC members and Native Education staff
  • Align any new logo with Seattle Public Schools branding guidelines
  • Artist to begin work after receiving:
    • Committee input
    • SPS branding requirements

Action: Chair to gather input via shared Word document and coordinate next steps.

Committee Reflections and Closing Discussion

Members emphasized:

  • The urgency of supporting at‑risk students, particularly seniors
  • The importance of accountability and follow‑through
  • Continued advocacy to ensure Native students are not left behind

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 PM.

Next meeting is on April 9, 2026

We encourage all parents and guardians of Seattle Public Schools Native American and Alaskan Native Students to attend. The role of the Title Vl Native Education Parent Advisory Committee is to consult with and advise the Seattle School District on the development and operation of the Title Vl Program, assist in the development and approval of the Title Vl grant, and to help organize and conduct community cultural events, it’s important to know that the PAC helps to organize events and raise funds as well.  By serving on the PAC parents and guardians of Native American/Alaskan Native Students in Seattle Public Schools can help decide the program goals and activities.

 For information contact Georgina Badoni gebadoni@seattleschools.org 206-252-0948