Backlog Plagues Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools
Story-Date: 09:18 a.m. PST Monday   , November 24, 1997

------------------------------------------------------------

Backlog Plagues Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools


By Elmer M. Savilla, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D.
Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Nov. 24--Over a two week period, the condition of BIA
funded reservation schools surfaced and became the subject of concern.

Although serious problems in these schools have been verbalized in annual
budget requests for almost 20 years, several congresses and presidential
administrations did not make Indian school repair and construction a
priority. At the same time, they decried the pitiful condition which had
caused the Indian Health Service to order some schools closed.

In the early 1980's the BIA Inspector General had criticized the condition
of the schools.

Jerry Schweigert, director of the BIA's construction department, provided
ICT with present facts and figures on the mounting backlog of school needs.

The total dollar amount needed to address all school construction needs
including school buildings, classrooms, and housing exceeds $889,995,000.

This amount includes:

$174 million for reimbursement of emergency repairs, boiler breakdowns,
items affecting health and safety of students in violation of safety codes.

$42.3 million for violations of the Environmental Protection Agency and IHS
standards, such as leaking fuel tanks and health violations in school
restrooms.

$30.3 million for violations of the Federal Accessibility and Use standards
for the handicapped in restrooms, etc.

$299 million for physical plant violations of electrical codes, roofs, and
other structural deficiencies.

$47.8 million for energy related deficiencies such as insulation, replace
windows, updating or replacing heating systems.

$38.1 million for space expansion or remodeling of a building area, such as
changing an area from offices to classrooms.

$278.4 million for construction or replacement of space due to flood damage
and/or an increase in student grade load.

The NIGC held a public hearing on Nov. 14 in the main auditorium of the
Interior Department to discuss the effect of the Indian Gaming Regulatory
Act (IGRA) and the NIGC regulations on gambling on the internet.

Presentations by Rick Hill, National Indian Gaming Association; David
Matheson, Coeur DMAlene Tribe;Susan Schneider of RGT Online, Inc.; Kevin
Mercuri, Interactive Service Assoc.; Gordon Graves, Multimedia Games, Inc.;
and Alan Kezner, Assistant Attorney General, Wis. were given.

The NIGC has the authority to take actions against violations of the IGRA,
the regulations enacted by the Commission, and violations of Tribal Gaming
Ordinances which are approved by the Commission.



------------------------------------------------------------