Relations with the Seneca Nation Tribal Council: It is the intent of the Salamanca City Central School District, Salamanca New York that all Indian children of school age have equal access to all programs, services and activities offered within the school district. To this end, the Salamanca City Central School District will consult with the Seneca Nation Tribal Council through the Seneca Nation Education Department (Allegany Territory) and the parents of Indian children in the planning and development of the Indian Policy and Procedures (IPPs), general education programs and activities. These policies and procedures will be reviewed annually and revisions made within ninety (90) days of the determination that the requirements are not adequately being met.
TRIBE’S Preferred METHOD(s) OF COMMUNICATION: The Seneca Nation’s preferred method of communication from the Salamanca City Central School District will be to utilize Indigenous Education Committee meetings (IEC), email and other forms of electronic communications (Facebook, District Website) to communicate with the Seneca Nation Education Department as well as utilizing the Salamanca City Central School District’s printed Pow Wow newsletter and regular school communication to parents, and when necessary letters sent home with students.
The following Indian Policy and Procedures become effective upon school board approval.
POLICY 1: The LEA will disseminate relevant applications, evaluations, program plans and information related to the LEA's education program and activities with sufficient advance notice to allow tribes and parents of Indian children the opportunity to review and make recommendations. [34CFR222.94(a)(1)]
Procedure 1:
1.1 The Salamanca City Central School District Designee (Superintendent) will disseminate, as soon as reasonably possible after such information becomes available, but not later than five (5) days in advance of any meeting, by email, the Seneca Nation Education Director a copy of the following documents-
Current Impact Aid application;
Assessment/Evaluation of Equal Participation in all Education Programs;
Indian Policy and Procedures (IPPs); and
A copy of the educational programs including any programs to be added or eliminated
The aforementioned items shall also be posted to the District website (under the Native Services tab)
1.2 A summary of the documents will be emailed and/or sent home with children for parents of Indian children. The summary will include information on how to access the documents on the District’s website.
1.3 Parents of Indian children, Seneca Nation officials and the public will be given access to any and all meetings related to equal participation, the content of the educational program, the Impact Aid application and the IPPs by including information about the meeting time and locations in the annual district calendar mailed to the community. The location, date and time of any meeting described above shall be posted in the same manner as a legally posted Board of Education meeting.
POLICY 2: The School District will provide an opportunity for the Tribe and parents of Indian children to provide their views on the District's educational program and activities, 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. [34CFR222 .94(a)(2)]
(i) Notify tribes and the parents of Indian children of the opportunity to submit comments and recommendations, considering the tribe's preference for method of communication, and
(ii) Modify the method of and time for soliciting Indian views, if necessary, to ensure the maximum participation of tribes and parents of Indian children.
Procedure 2:
2.1 The Salamanca City Central School District (LEA) will make the following opportunities available for parents of Indian children and the Seneca Nation to provide input into the education program and activities:
The Indigenous Education Committee (IEC) will meet on the second Wednesday of the month and a standing committee item shall be IPPs, educational programs and activities
Additional meetings can be scheduled by the Seneca Nation or District upon request
Regularly scheduled School Board meetings during Public Participation
2.2 Parents of Indian children, Seneca Nation officials/designees and the public will be given a minimum of a five (5) day notice of any and all meetings related to the content of the educational program, by including information about the meeting times and locations in the annual District calendar. The location, date and time of any meeting described above shall be posted in the same manner as a legally posted School Board meeting. Advertising of meetings shall utilize the District printed and electronic calendar, Social Media platforms and upcoming Board of Education events.
2.3 The Seneca Nation prefers communication to the Seneca Nation Education Department and parents of Indian children be disseminated electronically via email and other forms of electronic communications (Facebook, District Website). If the preferred method of communication changes, the Salamanca City Central School District will to the extent possible take this into consideration. Other communications (print, publications) will also be available to supplement prior communications with the Seneca Nation and parents of Indian children.
2.4 Annually as part of the IPP meeting (scheduled for a Board of Education meeting in July), the Salamanca City Central School District shall solicit information from the Seneca Nation, Indian parents regarding the frequency, location and time of meetings and shall make modifications to the method and time for soliciting Indian views, if necessary, to ensure maximum participation of the Seneca Nation and parents of Indian children.
POLICY 3: The School District will annually assess the extent to which Indian children participate on an equal basis with non-Indian children in the District's education program and activities. [34CFR222.94(a)(3)]
(i) Share relevant information related to Indian children's participation in the LEA's education program and activities with tribes and parents of Indian children; and
(ii) Allow tribes and parents of Indian children the opportunity and time to review and comment on whether Indian children participate on an equal basis with non-Indian children.
Procedure 3:
The Salamanca City Central School District (LEA) will take the following measures to annually assess the extent which Indian children participate on an equal basis with non-Indian children in the District’s educational program and activities.
3.1 The Salamanca City Central School District shall publish to the District website, annually, from its student management system, the number of students enrolled and participating in all academic and co-curricular programs. This publication shall include the title of the academic course or co-curricular activity, ethnicity and gender of participants.
3.2 The Salamanca City Central School District will disseminate its assessment of Indian children participation compared to non-Indian children and other related data to the Indigenous Education Committee and post related documents to the District website in February.
3.3 Parents of Indian children, Seneca Nation and other interested parties may express their views on participation through the following methods:
Indigenous Education Committee meetings held at the High School Large Group Instruction Room, on the second Wednesday of August, September, October, December, January, February, March and April.
Title VI Parent Advisory Committee meetings
Regularly scheduled Board of Education meetings, held at 50 Iroquois Drive, Salamanca NY on the second (2nd ) and fourth (4th) Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm.
At IPP Community Forums held on the first Thursday of November and December
Direct written communication with the Salamanca City Central School District (in care of District Clerk or BOE President or Superintendent 50 Iroquois Drive, Salamanca NY 14779)
3.4 If there are gaps in the Indian child participation within the educational program or activities, the Salamanca City Central School District Board of Education in consultation with the Indigenous Education Committee, Seneca Nation and parents of Indian children will seek to modify its educational program in such ways that will improve Indian participation.
POLICY 4: The School District will modify the IPPs if necessary, based upon the results of any assessment or input described in this document. [34CRF222.94(a)(4)]
Procedure 4:
4.1 The Salamanca City Central School District will annually approve the IPPs a minimum of two times annually, once at its annual re-organizational meeting of the year held in early July (public notice will follow) and at the December Board of Education meeting. The location and date of meetings noted above will be posted in the same manner as legally posted Board meetings.
4.2 The Salamanca City Central School District will survey the Indigenous Education Committee and Title VI Parent Advisory Committee in the Fall to seek input on equal participation levels, educational programs and activities.
4.3 The Salamanca City Central School District will have a standing agenda item on the Indigenous Education Committee meetings to discuss equal participation, and educational programs and activities. The IEC meetings are held at the High School Large Group Instruction Room on the second Wednesday of August, September, October, December, January, February, March and April. The location and date of meetings noted above will be posted in the same manner as legally posted Board meetings.
4.4 The Salamanca City Central School District Board of Education in consultation with the Seneca Nation, the Indigenous Education Committee and Title VI Parent Advisory Committee will make recommended revisions to the IPPs.
4.5 The Salamanca City Central School District will decide upon all recommendations for revisions to the approved IPPs.
4.6 Any changes to the IPPs (procedures) will require Salamanca City Central School District Board of Education adoption and become effective upon ratification by the Board.
4.7 The Salamanca City Central School District will disseminate copies of the revised IPPs to the Seneca Nation Education Department and within 30 days of adoption by the Board of Education. The Seneca Nation Education Department will receive a copy of the revised IPPs by email. A notice will be published in the District newsletter (PowWow) on how parents may request a copy of the current or revised IPPs.
POLICY 5: The School District will respond at least annually in writing to comments and recommendations made by tribes or parents of Indian children, and disseminate the responses to the tribe and parents of Indian children prior to the submission of the IPPs by the LEA. [34CRF222 .94(a)(5)]
Procedure 5:
5.1 The Salamanca City Central School District will maintain and track a list of comments and suggestions received through various consultative processes by ensuring timely publication of Indigenous Education Committee meeting minutes.
5.2 Individual written requests from the Seneca Nation Education Department, parents of Indian children or students will receive a written response from the Superintendent of Schools (or designee) within 30 days. Written requests should be directed to either the District Clerk or BOE President or Superintendent and can be sent to 50 Iroquois Drive – Salamanca NY 14779
5.3 The Superintendent will provide at least annually, a summary report to the Salamanca City Central School District Board of Education on written communications received relating to IPPs. This summary and a procedure on how parents may request a copy of the summary will be published in the District newsletter (PowWow).
POLICY 6: The Salamanca City Central School District will provide a copy of the IPPs annually to the affected tribe or tribes. [34CR F222.94 (a)(6)]
6.1 The Salamanca City Central School District will provide a copy to the Seneca Nation c/o the Office of the President of the current Indian Policy and Procedures prior to submitting the Impact Aid Application.
6.2 The IPPs of the Salamanca City Central School District have been approved by the Board of Education and were sent to the Seneca Nation Office of the President:
Approved: July 1, 2014
Approved: July 14, 2014
Approved: July 7, 2015
Approved: December 8, 2015
Approved: July 12, 2016
Approved: December 13, 2016
Approved: July 11, 2017
Approved: December 19, 2017
Approved: July 3, 2018
Approved: December 20, 2018
Approved: July 2, 2019
Approved: December 3, 2019
Amended and Approved: August 4, 2020
Approved: July 13, 2021
Approved: January 4, 2022
Amended and Approved: July 12, 2022
Approved: January 10, 2023
Approved: July 11, 2023
Approved: January 9, 2024
Legal References: 20 U.S.C. §7704 (impact Aid Program)
34 C.F.R. §222.94 IIPP Policy and Procedures requirements)
