Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson-today announced that applications for enrollment at Intermountain Boarding High School, Brigham City, Utah, will be accepted from members of all tribal groups served by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In the past, this Bureau school had been operated solely for Navajos.
Enrollment on an all-tribal basis was recommended by an all Indian Study Commission. Established by the Commissioner to assess possible uses of the large facility, it represents major Indian organizations. Intermountain Boarding High School is now being phased out as a Navajo learning center.
"All-tribal enrollment at Intermountain will be on an experimental basis for one year," Thompson said. "In addition to increasing educational options for Indian students, the experiment will provide firm indicators of the need, or lack of need on the part of Indians for such a program. The All Indian Study Commission will continue its review of other potential plans for the school facility."
The decision to close Intermountain as a Navajo boarding school was based on the availability of classroom space on the reservation. This came about when Grey Hill Boarding High School, Tuba City, Ariz. --in the heart of the Navajo Reservation was opened this fall. Intermountain is located some 500 miles from the Navajo Reservation.
Commissioner Thompson indicated that the all-tribal program at Intermountain would present some problems "because the new students will not be coming from other Bureau schools but will be youth not now in school or in public schools which are not adequately meeting their needs. We are trying to reach Indian students most in need of help --to give them a better chance," the Commissioner said.
Intermountain – a $50 million property – accepted no freshman students in 1973-1974, limiting its program to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. This same limitation will continue. Applications for admission to the school should be submitted to the Bureau’s agency office serving the tribal group to which the potential student belongs.
