CATOOSA — The Cherokee Nation is providing a much-needed boost to area schools with its annual motor vehicle tax revenue appropriation. The funding comes from a tribally legislated act that provides an annual distribution for public schools. Cherokee Nation law mandates that 38 percent of tax revenues generated through the sale of Cherokee Nation car tags must fund education. Since the act was passed in 2002, the amount of Cherokee Nation funding distributed to schools within its jurisdiction has been nearly $22 million. Northeastern Oklahoma schools this year will receive $2,734,757.77.

Education officials from public schools across the tribe’s jurisdiction were on hand Wednesday at Cherokee Nation’s annual education summit to receive their 2011 appropriations and listen to speakers such as Oklahoma Secretary of Education Dr. Phyllis Hudecki, presenting the event’s keynote address as tribal and education officials convened to discuss current education issues.

“We understand the challenge with public schools budget cuts; we are pleased that the motor vehicle tag distribution supplements those strained budgets,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. “We are looking forward to developing history and culture within public content and enriching lives in public schools.”

Each school’s funding amounts were determined by a formula based on the number of students attending the school that are citizens of the Cherokee Nation, although the school districts are not restricted to using the allocation in a particular manner or for any particular students. This year’s formula was allocated based on a total of 22,468 Cherokee students attending school in 94 school districts.

“The Bluejacket School District appreciates the continued support our students receive from the Cherokee Nation,” said Almeda Carroll, superintendent for Bluejacket Public Schools in Craig County.

“The distribution of the motor vehicle tax to our schools will be used to supplement our efforts to increase integration of technology into all areas of the curriculum. These funds are vital to our district as they ensure that all students have equal educational opportunities.”

“The money keeps programs open, like archery, and we’re funding a robotics program for first grade through high school students,” said Locust Grove Public Schools Superintendent David Cash. “There is no way we could do it without help from the Cherokee Nation.”

In addition to the unrestricted revenues presented to schools, Cherokee Nation introduced a new competitive grant opportunity for eligible schools, which is also funded by Cherokee Nation’s motor vehicle tag sales. The grant’s purpose is to encourage public schools to promote Cherokee programming or projects through Cherokee-specific instruction and/or co-curricular activities. The grant funding cycle is for one calendar year, starting Jan. 1, 2011.  The total grant award allocated was $282,000 and ranged from $5,000 to $25,000 per school. Fourteen of the 27 grant applications received this year were selected.

Maryetta School in Adair County is one of the 14 schools that received a competitive grant from the Cherokee Nation. The grant was for $25,000. According to Maryetta School Principal Rhonda Brown, the district will fund a cultural and technological academic program for its students.

“Maryetta students will participate in a field trip, documenting cultural activities and information.  From this, using their technology skills, they will create a virtual field trip that instructors may use as supplementary instruction to the curriculum,” said Brown. “The finished products of this project will be accessible through Maryetta’s website this fall. The use of these funds provided by the grant and by Cherokee Nation has allowed the blending of technology, community, and cultural information, which has been very beneficial to Maryetta students.”

“We are very proud to be able to support our local public schools with our motor vehicle revenue,” said Sharon Swepston, Cherokee Nation Tax Commission administrator. “Every year we hear all the great things the schools are able to do with the distribution and it is something that we look forward to being able to continue to do.”

Additional tax revenue from Cherokee Nation car tag sales funds local law enforcement and roads projects.