The Rapid City School District Parent Advisory Committee came close to refusing to sign off on next year's Indian Education grant application Tuesday night, but was persuaded otherwise by parents at the meeting.

The federal Office of Indian Education, which provides the grant, requires parental involvement from the Native American community. The deadline for the grant application is a week from today.

Terry Bissonette, vice chairwoman of the committee, said she was uncomfortable signing the grant when chairwoman Keely Clark was not there. Clark was not able to attend because of a family emergency.

Indian Education and Grants director Delores Riley said next year's grant would provide the district $360,000 for programs and support for fifth-, eighth- and ninth-grade Native American students. She asked the PAC board members not to delay any longer in signing the application.

Bissonette and another board member said they were uncomfortable signing the grant without Clark.

"Our intention was to discuss this openly," Bissonette said.

She said the board still wanted input from the parents Tuesday, even if board members didn't sign right then.

Central High School principal Mike Talley stood to speak as a parent of three Native American children and said he was concerned.

"Not signing tonight puts the grant in jeopardy," he said, adding that the board might not have a chance for another quorum before April 23. He likened it to the board of education not signing something at a meeting with an upcoming deadline because they were missing one member.

Robert Cook, a local Native American activist and former district teacher, said he didn't understand why they were pressuring the board to sign right then.

"We all want this grant," he said. "You don't just sign off on something when things haven't changed and 90 percent of our Indian kids are dropping out."

Over the past year, several PAC members including Clark have expressed concerns over the way Title VII Indian Education money is being spent.

Riley said that while some money comes to the district's Indian Education office from local effort, most is from the federal government.

"It is totally irresponsible to hold hostage a grant that helps Indian students," she said.

Michele Means, a Title VII staff member, said the board and parents have had plenty of time to look over the grant application.

"Now we're facing only a week," she said. "The parents elected you to be in those positions; you're very capable of making these decisions."

Leon Hale, a grandparent of a student in the district, agreed.

"One person should not hold this up," he said. "This is very important."

Toward the close of the meeting, Bissonette held a vote for approval of the grant and the board members agreed to sign.

Jackie Talley, assistant principal at Southwest Middle School, thanked the board while they signed. She said she, and her husband Mike Talley, would not be where they are today without grants like this one.

"Thank you for having the courage to go through with this," she said.

Riley said she was grateful the committee decided to sign.

"They're really trying hard," she said. "I appreciate their efforts of trying to bring people together. … Tonight ended on a positive note."

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapdicityjournal.com.