Two requests for "2 percent funding" from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians were supported Monday night by the Suttons Bay Board of Education.

Board members endorsed the annual request for $100,000 for the Title VII Indian Education program as well as a new request — to establish a 2-year Native language course in “Anishinaabemowin.”

Justification for the $100,000 request for Title VII funds was included in the school’s application to the tribe.

“Although we are witnessing an increase in academic achievement among our students, we still have roughly 20 percent of our Native American student population that are receiving grades that are below average on their report cards,” the application states. “MEAP scores also indicate that the percentage of Native American students who scored proficient or above is slightly less than that of all students who were assessed.”

Plans for the $100,000 include continuance of a tutoring program and development of a staff member to serve as an advocate for Native students who don’t always feel comfortable asking questions, Superintendent Michael Murray said.

He added that a recent meeting of the Title VII committee yielded other suggestions, such as greater involvement in early education initiatives, making sure parents and students are connected to the school via computer, and implementation of a summer school program.

The proposed 2007-08 Indian Education budget is $139,259. Some $84,677 is allocated for tutors. Additional budget figures include $13,440 for a director, $9,401 for a summer school teacher, $7,754 for a liaison between the students and instructors, and $5,592 for a homework lab.

The proposed spending plan also includes $9,045 for “student services,” $5,000 for educational materials, $2,500 for “professional development,” and $1,700 for food.
Suttons Bay is also seeking $25,000 that would be used to develop a 2-year Native language course. The intention is to develop a high school curriculum in Anishinaabemowin, which could meet the state curriculum guidelines that will require two years of foreign language instruction for all graduates by 2014.

“This presents real possibilities for us,” Murray said.