WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT
Social Justice Committee
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wsesu.org
NOTICE OF MEETING
The Windham Southeast School District Social Justice Committee will meet
remotely at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2020 via Zoom:
Join Zoom Meeting
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AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 4:30 p.m. – Thomas Nolan
II. Approval of Minutes – August 24 and September 28, 2020
III. Discuss the next steps for implementing commitment, including Andy’s details on initiating union approval of offering diversity incentives to new hires.
IV. Discuss a Board Study Group
V. Possible Interview with Additional Training Resource.
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WSESD Social Justice Committee- August 24, 2020
I. CALL TO ORDER – 4:30p.m. – Present – David Schoales, Anne Beekman, Shaun Murphy, Thomas Nolan, Jaci Reynolds, Mikaela Simms, Mike Szostak, Dottie Morris
II. Approval of Minutes – July 27, 2020 approved
III. Discuss Possible Implicit Bias Training Options –
Committee clarified five anti-racist training provider options for board, staff, Equity Teacherleaders. Important to have as clear a description of what we want from the training as possible. Commitment describes “anti-racist” and “social justice.” Thomas will send the Commitment document to all providers and ask for proposals for how they could help us achieve those goals.
IV. Review and Discuss CRG Proposals – Clarified that DRG is the acronym for the organization Andy identified from Hartford. They will receive the “Commitment” and request for feedback.
V. Identify progress on identifying Diversity & Equity Teacher Leaders from each school, along with progress on creating “space and provide the resources necessary for teachers to do the internal work of becoming critically conscious, reflective anti-racist practitioners.”
Thomas will follow-up with Mikaela re: progress on preparing a presentation to the Board on the goals and work of the TL’s; and the extent of progress in each school building.
VI. Progress on Hiring Since July-
Andy reported district has a full-time HR director. Diversity/Equity Committee members and staff who indicated an interest through the 1% Grants process will be contacted to work with HR director (Stacey Mousseau) as a committee to identify sources and key contact people to help identify qualified people of color to apply for open positions.
Established Job Fairs and personal-contact fairs/presentations to specific college placement and education departments promoted as necessary for success.
Using our “Commitment” to distinguish ourselves can be a powerful asset. Stipends for moving will be a bargaining unit issue. Thomas will ask Andy to talk with the union to see how they would respond to incentives specifically to attract qualified BIPOC candidates. AFSC is also a resource to contact to help identify applicants.
VII. Name of our committee-is it confusing with the staff committee?
Proposed and agreed to change it to “WSESD Social Justice Committee.” Conversation developed about how to communicate between the various schools, SD an SU groups working on diversity issues. An annual conference might help. Other structures that might help make the district attractive are infrastructure components like play-groups and parentsupport groups for families with children of color to meet together. Having an adult for every student (and staff) have a person they can go to – creating a “single garment” that includes all.
VIII. Possible Future Agenda items?
– Follow upon Div/Eq presentation to Board
– Establishing hiring committee expectations to include students
– Negotiate incentives to attract candidates of color
– Follow-up on commitment to identify committee to work with HR Director
– Schedule presentations from training providers.
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Social Justice Committee Sept 28, 2020
Convened at 4:35.
1. Members Present- Anne Beekman, Thomas Nolan, David Schoales, Liz Adams.
2. Approved Minutes for Sept 3 and Sept 11, 2020.
3. Presentations from trainers- we have documents from DRG; Ariel Nelson; Dottie Morris and Mary Gannon; Bor Yang (Vt Human Rights Commission). Thomas will contact Mikaela for contact info for the fifth candidate and contact them re presentation.
Shaun volunteered to have the Finance Committee start looking for resources to support training.
4. Weds afternoon reserved for Commitment work. David will ask Andy to put together a detailed list of current activities taking place on Weds afternoons to start the conversation about reserving them/some of them for teachers to collaborate on the Commitment.
5. Progress on diversifying our workforce- 4 Questions revisited- the questions are intended to provide information for the board. They are not precursors to affirmative action proposals.
Reach out for more diverse candidates- follow-up with Andy and Mikaela on steps taken so far.
Action steps- Thomas will follow up on how to begin negotiations on possible incentives to attract more diverse candidates; and follow-up on commitment to identify committee to work with HR Director
VIII. Possible Future Agenda items?
-Establishing hiring committee expectations to include students on search/interview teams.
Oct 26, 2020 next meeting
Adjourned at 5:20.
