The Indigenous Parent Advisory Committee reinstates former chairperson, proceeds with removal of term limits

Members of the IPAC and Bismarck Public Schools take steps forward together

The Indigenous Parent Advisory Committee is proceeding with amending its bylaws and working with Bismarck Public Schools to begin a new chapter in their collaboration.

During a meeting on June 6, Billi Jo Beheler was unanimously reinstated as chairperson of the committee. On May 21, she was re-elected after newly elected president Heather Rae Demaray resigned. However, she was not able to assume the role due to questions about bylaw violations and term limits, so vice-chairperson Wind Spirit Spotted Bear stepped up as interim president.

Previously, Beheler led the IPAC for two terms from 2019 to 2024. But the Johnson O’Malley bylaws as currently worded state, “Members may run for a second two-year term if re-elected by the community.” The IPAC, which advises the district on both the Johnson O’Malley and Title V programs, held a special meeting on May 28 to amend both programs’ bylaws to clarify that there is no term limit.

“I appreciate your commitment and support, and watching you navigate this,” Behler told the group. “Everyone has a busy schedule at the end of the school year… Anything that you’ve gone through, I want to validate it’s hard work. I appreciate you navigating this, especially in your first term. I think it’s cool that y’all are still here and showing up.”

According to incoming Indigenous Education Director Tomi Cimarosti, who was present at all three recent IPAC meetings – although her official start date is not until June 10 – a staff member from Bismarck Public Schools will need to sign the document approving the updated bylaws for them to be approved. Cimarosti will sign the document approving the changes during the next meeting on June 13, when she will be authorized to represent BPS.

Later in the session, members brought up the Memorandum of Understanding, a resolution between the IPAC and BPS drafted after a previous breakdown of relations. Copies of the draft MOU were passed around. At the meeting, members said under Section V – Communication, they’d like to know who would be the designated BPS staff member to go to in case the Indigenous Education Director isn’t available.

Sunshine Archambault, the parent of an incoming eleventh grader, suggested the district and IPAC hold an annual strategic planning session with parents. Others also would like grant data based on the JOM and Title VI funds to be available.

The IPAC plans to continue discussing the MOU until it completes a final draft to send back to the district. Valerie Siqueiros, the IPAC secretary, will continue to take suggestions from members over the next few weeks.

The IPAC officers, Cimarosti, and three other parents were in attendance. While the meeting addressed important topics, such as the bylaws and MOU, parents visited and interacted with one another in between discussions. Since this was a more intimate meeting, IPAC members chose not to use Robert’s Rules of Order, a parliamentary procedure. Instead, attendees listened to each other and kept the room conversational.

The IPAC plans to discuss budgets and officially amend the bylaws during the meeting at BPS Headquarters at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at 128 Soo Line Drive. Another meeting is being scheduled for later in the month to discuss plans for a back-to-school event and update the IPAC logo.

Dateline:

BISMARCK, N.D.