Minutes 09-24-2020 Virtual Joint Meeting w-Schools

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17 Slide #22 "Not everything that is faced can be changed.But nothing can be changed until it is faced."-James Baldwin • The reopening school subcommittees utilized the Racial Equity Impact Assessment(REIA, Race Forward)to ensure decisions were equitable • Students were invited to participate in the reopening subcommittees to provide equity of voice • Equity specialists will provide staff and faculty professional development focused on: Trajectory to Identity,Community,Equity and Social Justice u 27 Equitable Classroom Practices How to Talk About Race Intersectionality as a Compass u My Protest is my Pedagogy • Continued collaboration with Student Services in providing professional development- Building Equity Centered Classrooms .. Dr. Monique Felder said she has worked a number of places, and the equity work here is so impressive and important for student learning. She said equity is the thread that runs through the District's work. Dr. Dena Keeling said equity is a district priority, and everything the District does is through an equity lens. She said before she was hired, the Board approved some joint funding, and the district secured two 2-day trainings for district leadership, school counselors, career advisors, and select teachers. She said these staff members went on to make up school based equity teams in each school. She said the District cabinet and all school principals go through monthly equity training, which has moved to an online platform due to Covid. She said the district is working with Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) through a grant at the NC Department of Education. She said IDRA analyzes data for OCS and creates trainings accordingly. Dr. Dena Keeling said every school based equity team has a lead, and she met with this team for the first time last night. She said this work is important and she is having staff do a lot of self-reflection. She said the equity taskforce is recruiting new members, including community members, teachers, students and parents. She said this task force will make recommendations to the Superintendent about issues related to equity. She said all current policies will be reviewed. Dr. Dena Keeling said she recently started affinity groups for staff, especially African American staff. She said Orange High School has an excellent student led equity team, and an African American history course offering has come out of that group. She said she listens carefully to these students. She said she is a department of one, and it is a big lift to build this effort in Orange County Schools. She said another challenge is the racial climate, and it is hard to hear from students about feeling harmed and unsafe. She said it would be helpful if there was a community wide focus on these issues. Commissioner Greene said she is very interested in the students input about wanting more diverse course offerings, and wanted to make sure Dr. Keeling knows about DPI resources in these areas. Jim Causby introduced Lee Williams who is the Chief Equity Officer. He said Dr. Lee Williams was leaving at the end of the month and headed back to Guilford County Schools as a middle school principal.