TGB Issues Statement Regarding Charter School Closure

LCO Tribal Governing Board

Official Statement

The Tribal Governing Board (“TGB”) voted on March 8, 2024, to explore options for combining the Akii-gikinoo’amaading Charter School (“Akii School”) with the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School (“LCO School”) based on information provided by the Akii School to the TGB. This followed action by the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University that was taken initially in 2023, and again in January of 2024, to non-renew the Akii School’s Wisconsin State Charter due to ongoing reporting, budgetary, and compliance deficiencies.

The Director for the Akii School subsequently contacted the Bureau of Indian Education (“BIE”) to discuss this pending restructuring. To expedite this discussion, representatives from the Akii School, the LCO School, the Tribe’s Office of the Attorney General, and the TGB met with the BIE to discuss further steps. In late April, the BIE sent a representative to meet with all the parties in person, again to assist in addressing the required components needed to facilitate an academic arrangement between both the Akii and LCO Schools. These issues primarily dealt with academic accountability requirements and funding.

Following this meeting, the BIE along with the Administrators of the Akii School and the LCO School continued to discuss the logistics and details of the proposed academic relationship. In May, the BIE offered to hold a subsequent planning meeting. Unfortunately, the necessary logistics to continue the Akii School remained unresolved, and their State Charter expired. Without a Charter or an agreement that meets BIE requirements, the Akii School will not be in operation for the upcoming school year.

With the closure of the Akii School, the tribal students that previously attended will be obligated to transfer to another school. The TGB strongly encourages the Akii School families to begin the process of fall enrollment, including the request for student records as soon as possible, to assure that fall enrollment takes place on time and without issues. Please note that Akii School student records can be accessed by contacting Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute Executive Director Lisa LaRonge at lisa.laronge@lcoosk12.org or at (715) 634-8924, ext. 1270.

The TGB further requests that any family that has questions about student transfers to please contact the administrative offices of either the Hayward, LCO, or St. Francis schools as soon as possible.