At the July 29, 2021 Board of Education meeting, it was discussed and resolved that the development of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Committee be approved.
The advisory committee recognizes that the district has work to do in order to create a school community that is more diverse, equitable and inclusive. This work will not happen overnight and requires sustained commitment and a comprehensive approach. The advisory committee further recognizes that we hold neither the expertise nor the experience to do this on our own and therefore plans to both engage an outside DEI consultant to provide guidance and to leverage the New York State Board of Regents Framework on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in New York’s Schools (April 2021 Meeting of the Board of Regents - The NYS Board of Regents Framework on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in New York’s Schools: A Call to Action - DRAFT (nysed.gov)).
The advisory committee is currently made-up of four Board Members (Crissy Martin, Kate Murphy, Danny Thomas and Wendy Todd) and Superintendent Ron Burke. In addition to the expert guidance provided by an outside DEI consultant and the State's Board of Regents, the advisory committee will seek to include the viewpoints and counsel of all key stakeholders in an appropriate and timely manner.