Central Consolidated School District went too far.

Literally.

It is admirable but also expected that the school district has a keen interest in learning the latest methods and tools available for keeping American Indian students motivated to stay in school and prosper.

After all, 90 percent of its enrollment of more than 6,700 students are American Indians.

However, sending not one, not two, not three, but eight representatives to a conference in the paradise state of Hawaii is not a message of careful spending using limited federal funds meant to help the cause.

This, after five representatives attended another conference in Niagara Falls only a short time earlier.

Are the conferences productive in that they provide the latest in new teaching methods?

Yes, probably so.

Are they helpful in the establishment of good networking with other school districts that teach American Indian students?

Sure; it helps to build sounding boards and idea exchanges.

Does it seem odd that Central Consolidated ignored

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this conference during the past few years, including meetings in nearby Denver and Phoenix, and suddenly attended this year by sending eight to Hawaii?

Worse than odd.

There is no way the school district can satisfy all of its critics that this was the proper use of special money intended to help American Indian students.

The district should be ashamed at the black eye it has given itself, and it should act immediately to clarify its travel policies so that it quickly can restore trust among those who support it, including the federal government, which already is considering cancellation of the program. Poor use of it in sending such large groups to only places of tourism interest makes it easier for such cuts.

Because of that, the district has not only hurt itself, but every other district that depends on the money to help inspire and educate its American Indian students, many of whom face special economic, cultural or geographical challenges when it comes to choosing between school or otherwise.

It benefits everyone that they choose school and, further, that they do well. That not only helps the student, but the economy as well when they graduate and can offer professional services.

Central Consolidated spent nearly $20,000 on the travel, from a total of $338,794 in what is called the federal Johnson O'Malley funds. The funds are intended to meet needs such as school supplies, tutoring costs, lab fees, ACT testing and after-school programs.

Given the 6,700 students in mind, surely the district could have found success worth sharing from the conferences if only three or fewer representatives attended.

Instead, also jeopardized is the $162,438 the Farmington district depends upon for its 3,013 American Indian students, the $53,000 Bloomfield schools need for their 1,011 such students and the $20,000 Aztec schools receive for 409 American Indian pupils.

Reading over Central's travel log, even blind ole Uncle Sam can spot waste this obvious. More cuts are sure to come.

Most of the other districts, by the way, decided against sending delegates on such trips because they chose instead to keep the money dedicated strictly to specific student needs.

Central Consolidated's enrollment majority of American Indian students makes attending the conferences understandable.

Nevertheless, it also makes the district more responsible, and this bit of travel simply went too far, in more ways than one.