Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon January 3, 2018 Important health question on ballot Oregon voters on January 23 will vote on Measure 101, the Healthcare Insurance Premiums Tax for Medicaid Referendum. This ballot measure presents a health funding question of critical importance to the membership of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. As stated in the ballot summary: Passage of the measure would ap- prove temporary assessments to fund health care for low-income individuals and families, and to sta- bilize health insurance premiums. In other words, passage of the measure is important for adequate funding of the Oregon Health Plan. The tribes have a high per- centage of members who are en- rolled with the state health plan. An example of the potential con- sequences: When a tribal member goes to the clinic and is referred out for specialty care outside the clinic, then the Oregon Health Plan— with adequate funding—can cover this cost, if the patient is enrolled with OHP. Without adequate funding, the cost of the outside health care would go the tribes’ Managed Care program. Potentially, if Measure 101 does not pass, then the Man- aged Care program could see a large negative financial impact. “The overall effect of Measure 101 on the community of Warm Springs is vital, as the passage would allow stabilization of the state’s health system, commonly known as OHP,” said Mike Collins, director of Warm Springs Man- aged Care. Passage of the measure, Mr. Collins said, “Would allow our community members to continue to be eligible for assistance through OHP. With Measure 101 failing, “The overall effect of Measure 101 on the com- munity of Warm Springs is vital, as the passage would allow stabilization of the state’s health system, com- monly known as OHP.” Mike Collins Director, W.S. Managed Care it would be detrimental to the tribes’ Managed Care Program, as the as- sistance now covered by OHP would be transferred to the expense of the Managed Care Program.” He added, “Over time this could jeopardize assistance, and poten- tially put us back into a Priority 1 status.” The Priority 1 situation of some years ago involved a strict limi- tation on the kinds of health care services available to members. Page 7 Spokane casino opening The Spokane Tribe will open its long-awaited casino in Wash- ington on January 8, 2018. The Spokane Tribe Casino is located in Airway Heights. The facility, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will feature 450 slot machines, 12 table games, a restaurant and bar, a deli and a gaming floor bar, according to news reports. “Many supporters of the Spokane Tribe Economic Project helped with our efforts to make the casino become a reality, and we are grateful to share this celebration with them,” said Chairwoman Carol Evans. It took the tribe over 10 years to win final approval for the Spokane Tribe Economic Project. Approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as the state governor, was needed because the 145-acre site had been acquired after the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988. Spokane Tribe Casino on Facebook: ‘It’s time.....’ The Spokanes are among a small number of tribes to have completed both steps of the two-part determination process of IGRA. One of the first was the Kalispel Tribe, whose lead- ers operate the Northern Quest Resort and Casino at a site in Airway Heights less than three miles away. The Kalispels, along with Spo- kane County, are suing the fed- eral government in hopes of derailing the new development but litigation does not appear to have advanced to a decision phase. The Spokane Tribe has inter- vened as a defendant. Indian Policies and Procedures - School District 509- J - FY2019 (draft) Dear parents, family and com- munity members, I hope you and your family members had a great 2017. I’m very honored to serve the com- munity as the new superinten- dent of the Jefferson County School District. I’m writing to you from this new role about the process of communicating with families of Native American students and community members. In par- ticular I am writing about par- ticipation of Native youth in district programs, and how we can improve outcomes for our students in the future. I am asking for your help in three ways. First, please review the following Indian Policy and Procedures, so named by the U.S. Department of Education. Second, please answer the three question survey, sent ear- lier by mail, about how often and in what manner it is best to communicate and receive infor- mation from you about our pro- cedures, programs, involvement of students, and learning out- comes for students. The completed survey can be returned to one of the follow- ing location: The Warm Springs Academy, the Warm Springs Li- brar y, War m Springs Early Childhood Education Center, Madras High School or the Dis- trict Office. The survey can also be completed online at: jcsd.k12.or.us/district/im- pact-aid. Finally, in February, review the information that will be dis- tributed about the participation of Native American students in district programs and results; providing feedback and sugges- tions for improvement. Thank you in advance for your participation in this pro- cess. I look forward to working with you more closely in the years to come in order to en- sure improved results for our students. Sincerely, Ken Parshall, superintendent, Jefferson County School Dis- trict. Indian Policies and Pro- cedures - School District 509- J - FY2019 It is the intent of the Jefferson County School District 509-J (“the District”) that all Indian children of school age have equal access to all pro- grams, services and activities offered within the school dis- trict. To this end, the District will consult with local tribal of- ficials and parents of Indian children in the planning and de- velopment of Indian Policies and Procedures (IPPs), general education programs, and activi- If necessary, the Indian Edu- cation Advisory Committee may suggest revisions at other times of the year as appropri- ate. Any updates will be sent to parents of Indian children and tribal officials within one week of adoption by the Board. ties. These policies and procedures will be reviewed annually and re- visions will be made within 90 days of the determination that requirements are not being ad- equately met. Indian Policies and Proce- dures The following Indian policies and procedures become effective upon school board approval. 1. The LEA will disseminate relevant applications, evaluations, program plans and information related to the LEA’s education program and activities with suf- ficient advance notice to allow tribes and parents of Indian chil- dren the opportunity to review and make recommendations. [34CFR222.94(a)(1)] a. The District administrator/ designee will, as soon as reason- ably possible after such informa- tion becomes available, but not later than one week in advance of any meeting, post the follow- ing documents on the District website (jcsd.k12.or.us/district/ impact-aid) for all Indian parents and tribal officials to review: i. Impact Aid application; ii. Evaluation of all educa- tional programs; and iii. Plans for education pro- grams the District intends to ini- tiate or eliminate. b. In addition, information re- garding these materials will be in- cluded in the District’s monthly newsletter, if appropriate. c. Parents of Indian children, tribal officials and the public will be given notice of any and all meetings related to equal partici- pation or the content of the edu- cational program. The location, date and time of any meeting de- scribed above shall be posted in the same manner as a legally posted Board meeting. 2. The District will provide an opportunity for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and par- ents of Indian children to pro- vide their views on the District’s educational program and activi- ties, including recommendations on the needs of their children and on how the District may help those children realize the benefits of the educational programs and activities. As part of this requirement, the District will: (1) notify tribes and the par- ents of Indian children of the opportunity to submit comments and recommendations, consider- ing the tribe’s preference for method of communication, and (2) modify the method of and time for soliciting Indian views, if necessary, to ensure the maxi- mum participation of tribes and parents of Indian children. [34CFR222 .94(a)(2)] a. The Indian Education Advi- sory Committee of the District will meet four times annually for the purpose of addressing com- ments and concerns of parents of Indian children regarding the District’s educational programs and activities. The meeting agendas are posted and all meetings are open to the public allowing for tribal officials as well as parents of Indian chil- dren the opportunity to submit comments and recommendations for consideration. i. A school board representa- tive is a non-voting member of the Indian Education Advisory Committee. This representation allows for the discussion of the needs of the students and ideas to be brought forward to both the Indian Education Advisory Com- mittee as well as the School Board. b. At each of the monthly school board meetings, a section of time is set aside for communi- cations from the public. This is a time to offer comments and sug- gestions regarding programming for Indian students. In addition, a public engagement process where family members and tribal leaders are provided the opportu- nity to provide feedback is sched- uled for February of each year. Based upon suggestions, preferred methods of communication as well as ways to maximize partici- pation from tribal officials and parents of Indian children will be seriously considered. c. The District and the Indian Education Advisory Committee representatives will schedule an annual meeting with the Confed- erated Tribes of Warm Springs to discuss ongoing programing goals. 3. The District will annually as- sess the extent to which Indian children participate on an equal ba- sis with non-Indian children in the District’s education program and activities. As part of this require- ment the LEA will: (1) share relevant information related to Indian children’s partici- pation in the LEA’s education pro- gram and activities with tribes and parents of Indian children; and (2) allow tribes and parents of Indian children the opportunity and time to review and comment on whether Indian children par- ticipate on an equal basis with non- Indian children. [34CFR222.94(a)(3)] a. The District will take the fol- lowing measures to annually as- sess the extent to which Indian children participate on an equal basis with non-Indian children in the District’s education program and activities. i. The Jefferson County School District 509J will monitor Indian student participation in all aca- demic and co-curricular activities. ii. School district officials will review school data to assess the extent of Indian children’s partici- pation in the District’s educational programs on an equal basis. iii. The Jefferson County School District 509J will share its assessment of district funding, In- dian student participation, related academic achievements and other related data will be shared with the parents of Indian children and tribal officials by email, posting at tribal offices, and online at: jcsd.k12.or.us/district/impact- aid This will be done one week in advance of the annual public en- gagement process meeting sched- uled in February of each year. iv. Parents of Indian children, tribal officials and other interested parties may express their views on participation through direct com- munication with the school dis- trict, at any school board meeting or to Indian Education Advisory Committee meetings. v. Copies of annual reports will be provided to tribal officials. 4. District will modify the IPPs if necessary, based upon the re- sults of any assessment or input described in this document. [34CRF222.94(a)(4)] a. During the organization meeting of the Indian Education Advisory Committee, the Indian Policies and Procedures will be re- viewed and revised if necessary. Once this has happened, the docu- ment will be forwarded to the Board as well as the tribal offi- cials and parents of Indian chil- dren for review and consideration. 5. The District will respond at least annually in writing to comments and recommenda- tions made by tribes or parents of Indian children, and dissemi- nate the responses to the tribe and parents of Indian children prior to the submission of the IPPs by the LEA. [34CRF222 .94(a)(5)] a. The District will at least annually respond in writing to comments and recommenda- tions made by Indian Education Advisory Committee, tribal of- ficials, or parents of Indian children, and disseminate the responses to all parties by email, posting at tribal offices and online http://jcsd.k12.or.us/dis- trict/impact-aid) prior to the submission of the IPPs by the District. 6. The Jefferson County School District 509J will pro- vide a copy of the IPPs annu- ally to the affected tribe or tribes. [34CR F222.94 (a)(6)] a. The Jefferson County School District 509J will annu- ally provide a copy of the cur- rent Indian Policies and Proce- dures to the Confederate Tribes of War m Springs by mail, email, posting at tribal offices, and online at jcsd.k12.or.us/dis- trict/impact-aid by February of each year. Attestation The District attests that it has established Indian Policies and Procedures (IPPs) as required in section 7004 of the Impact Aid law for any children claimed who reside on eligible Indian lands. The IPPs have been ad- equately disseminated to the tribes and parents of children residing on eligible Indian lands. A copy of the current policies and procedures was attached to the FY2019 Impact Aid appli- cation. The District attests that it has provided a copy of written re- sponses to comments, concerns and recommendations received from tribal leaders and parents of Indian children through the Indian policies and procedures consultation process and dis- seminated these responses to tribal leaders and parents of Indian children prior to the sub- mission of their FY2019 Im- pact Aid application.