The Bismarck Tribune from Bismarck, North Dakota • 37

Page 60 Sunday, December 26, 1993 The Bismarck Tribune DAKOTA TtouhlM at Watostoira Miami By MARILYNN WHEELER Associated Press Writer dent had been gang-raped in a school dormitory. The agency's Office of Indian Education Programs politely thanked Dorgan for his concern, but said the situa Hon was under imiu control. Two years later, the same allegations are still pending. Teachers and staff opposed to Hall insist problems have only gotten worse. State and feder- 1 1 I and an apparent warehousing of students who exhibit rather severe emotional and psychological disturbances." Five employees were suspended earlier this month after criticizing conditions at the school and publicly blaming Hall.

On Monday, the school's lawyer filed a motion to dismiss a district judge's temporary order against firing the employees. "The order interferes with the sovereign rights of tribes to govern their own affairs," said attorney Warren Stokes. Hall referred questions about the school's finances to Stokes. Although he declined to release any figures, Stokes said the school had undergone two BIA audits this fall and "both were complete, everything was fine." U.S. Attorney John Schneider said his office has little say in the way the school is managed.

Since the school is supported by federal funds, however, he said, "any misuse of those funds could raise the issue of federal jurisdiction. When Hall took over in September 1992, he said, the number of teachers and other staff members totaled about 60. Since then, staffing has increased dramatically. "We had 152 people this fall," he said. "We've trimmed back to 140 because enrollment is down, but we've still got more adults per kid than we have ever had." The school's enrollment totaled more than 200 this year, representing tribes from several states.

The students are in 4th-grade through 8th-grade. Employees in the administrative office were learning to use new computers last week. Hall said new computers also are in every classroom, in each of the dormitories and a new computer lab is in the school library. Police calls involving students from the school are down considerably since the school year began, said Wahpeton Police Chief Delano Lotzer. "I don't have any numbers," he said.

"We can just see by our monthly reports that things are down. "I would assume a lot of it has been brought about by the attention given to problems out there. Mr. Hall has implemented different procedures on handling students," Lotzer said. Hall believes more attention should be given to the improvements.

"The school board feels we're being isolated in the press," he said. "For example, Wyndmere had a special school board meeting over the violence in their junior high and declining letter grades. They've got problems, too." Problems at the Wahpeton Indian School "appear to be directly related to inadequate staffing," Wentz reported to Sinner in March 1992. Sinner's response was that the problems were chronic. Beth Wosick, the leader of the Child Protection Team, wrote to Dorgan a week later.

Four instances of abuse or neglect had been reported in the previous 18 months, she said, incidents that "reflect a picture of the school's chronic struggle to deal with issues of staff training, unmet counseling and treatment needs, adequate supervision of students ai omciais nave launched inves- WAHPETON "Why don't they do something about problems at the Wahpeton Indian School?" is a question many people asked this year. Since May, concerns about the safety and well-being of students have focused on the school's superintendent, Robert Hall. But those problems were reported months before Hall was hired and before the Bureau of Indian Affairs transferred control of institution to an independent tribal school board. "Our frustration was the issue of jurisdiction. Who had the authority to do anything about it?" said Robert Wentz, the former state health officer.

He expressed his concerns about the boarding school in a letter to then-Gov. George Sinner last year. A counselor reported problems to the state Child Protection Team in March 1992, which brought them to the attention of Rep. Byron Dorgan. Dorgan sought intervention by the BIA, noting a report that a stu tigations.

Hall: tains mfK "nspotlirfit. school's longstanding problems are finally being addressed. "If this school had continued the way it was (under the BIA), I would be a champion of closing it," Hall said. "We haven't fixed them yet," he said of the problems. "And maybe we're not fixing them quick enough for some people.

But we're working at it." ni L9 ir Numerous problems reported WAHPETON (AP) In February 1929, a committee of local business leaders delivered its findings on conditions at the Wahpeton Indian School to North Dakota's congressional delegation. There had been reports of starving students and widespread disease. "The facts which have been paraded in our public press of late are a complete misrepresentation," the report began. "They cast false implications upon a loyal and hard-working group of public employees who should be encouraged and not discouraged." Students had been weighed and their health records examined. All but a few influenza victims were normal.

The Wahpeton Indian School was established in 1908 to train youngsters in agriculture. Its history is one ofuncertainty and struggle. In February 1930, the school announced a new home economics focus for girls and a shop curriculum for boys. The school's dairy herd produced a quart of milk per pupil per day. Three years later, in September 1933, enrollment was at 347 but the school had money for only 325.

Here are other highlights in the school's history: May 1935: The federal government announces a plan to close some of its Indian boarding schools; Wahpeton is not on the list. The school's dairy herd is reportedly one of the best in the country. July 1946: During wartime, students are fed by sales of cream from its dairy herd; 16 hogs provide meat and diets are supplemented by vegetables from the school garden. January 1947: Department of Interior warns all BIA boarding schools will be closed; Wahpeton is to become a home for needy children. Its dairy herd is shipped to Oklahoma.

May 1947: The Wahpeton Indian School is ordered to close at the end of the school year. For 65 orphans, the school is their year-round home. The closure was avoided, but in August 1947, congressional budget cuts forced a cut in enrollment. August 1950: Good yields on the school farm mean 350 students can enroll instead of the projected 315. March 1956: The school hits record enrollment of 376.

Its authorized enrollment is 325. April 1961: A new elementary school dedicated. Enrollment is at 400. June 1980: Enrollment declines to 269, budget cuts force elimination of second grade. November 1981: Interior Department threatens to close Wahpeton and four other off-reservation schools at a combined annual savings of $5 million.

June 1982: A federal judge signs an order barring the closure of the school before end of the federal budget year. August 1982: Classes begin although funding for the next school year is uncertain. March 1983: Employees learn the school will not be closed although the third grade will be eliminated. April 1988: Congress passes law allowing tribes to assume operational control of BIA schools. September 1992: Classes are already under way when Robert Hall takes over as superintendent.

School board orders Hall to push for tribal control. April 1993: BIA approves the school's autonomy. The change is opposed by the National Federation of Federal Employees Local 208, which represents teachers and staff. May 1993: Fargo family files lawsuit alleging gang rape of a 12-year-old boy in January 1992. Fourteen employees, among them union leaders, are not offered 1993-94 contracts.

Congressional delegation demands federal probe. July 1993: Investigation complete; BIA turns the school over to tribal school board. September 1993: School begins with 281 students, including second-and third-graders. Staff increases from 87 to 152. Enrollment later drops to about 200.

December 1993: Five teachers allege students are abused and neglected, and also allege fraud in obtaining grants. Hall responds before a federal grand jury. Novelties Decorations Christmas Wrap Lighted Houses Trees Lights Wreaths Tree Skirts Christmas Cards Ornaments Stockings Christmas Dinnerware Discount off regular price taken at register. Not valid with sale clearance items. gj fcV ft Clearance $39.89 5" Portable Television.

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