Delegate cites in-fighting, poor AYP results as reason for action

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Council basically ended a power struggle between the Education Committee and the Board of Education Wednesday by stripping the board of most of its power and delegating it to the committee.

Legislation amending the authority of the board and reducing its members from 11 to seven failed by one vote Tuesday, 58-23. The measure required at least 59 votes to pass. On Wednesday, it was recalled by Delegate Raymond Joe and passed 61-13, without discussion. Recalled legislation only can be voted on, not discussed.

The legislation sponsored by Andy Ayze, Willie Tracey and a host of other delegates found that delegation of authority to the board under the Sovereignty in Education Act of 2005 had not resulted in projected improvements.

The Board of Education Amendments Act of 2008 found that while the exercise of certain duties and responsibilities of the board remain appropriate, others should be withdrawn and redistributed to the Education Committee and the Navajo Nation president.

During Tuesday’s debate, Delegate Leonard Tsosie said he was disappointed “that the two groups cannot work together for the benefit of our children,” rather than fighting over educational authority.

“If we go ahead and give the authority back to the Education Committee, from my end, I would expect 50 percent of the community schools to meet AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) next year, and thereafter another 10 percent, and thereafter another 10 percent.

“The reason why I say that is if there is nothing in the way, you cannot blame anybody else. The way I see it is there was really no good faith effort in working out the differences. The fault is on both sides.”

Rebecca Benally, board vice president, expressed disappointment at Wednesday’s vote. “It’s unfortunate that our leaders feel that education is very political when it shouldn’t be.”

Delegate Katherine Benally said the Board of Education was established to address certain standards, curriculum, certification of teachers, and research.

“We didn’t foresee one thing, and that was a clash between the governing body — the committee and the board,” she said. “We don’t have time to be fighting.”

Delegate Orlanda Smith-Hodge said she believes that any time legislators start dictating and micromanaging, it creates problems.

She said the board is made up of highly educated members. “If they were given the time and opportunity to do the work, I think they would succeed with whatever job is assigned to them. I think we as legislators need to remain as legislators and not dictate to highly educated people that we have put in place to manage the educational part of the education system.”

Smith-Hodge said that downsizing the board is not going to solve the existing problem because “according to the report that was given to us, it seems that nothing has been resolved.”

She asked sponsors Ayze and Tracey, “What makes you think that seven members will resolve the issue between the committee and the board? Are you just eliminating three extra people so you won’t have to deal with three extra people, or what? That’s my thinking.”

The Education Committee has been around since 1933, while the Board of Education has been in existence only about 18 months. The two entities were directed by Council in April to settle any differences regarding the board’s progress toward meeting its statutory responsibilities and to submit written progress reports to Council.