Schools to focus on diversity, inclusion, equity
NEW CANAAN — The Board of Education unanimouslyapproved its first read of a new objective to increase education on equity, diversity, inclusion and cultural humility throughout the district.
The new written goal would “provide professional development for faculty and staff focused on increasing awareness of equity, improving cultural humility, increasing cultural proficient responsive educational practices,” Superintendent Bryan Luizzi told the school board at a virtual online meeting, Monday.
“I think it is crucial at this moment in history that we as a board, as educational leaders of our district, communicate the importance of these values,” board member Sheri West said.
“We would start with the Board of Education and administrative team working together and using a collaborative process to develop, approve and publish a districtwide statement on equity, diversity and inclusion,” Luizzi said.
The goal states the district will help New Canaan High School students “increase sensitivity to the issues of equity diversity and inclusion to be global citizens” and work at elementary and middle school levels “to provide students with culturally diverse learning experiences.”
Board member Carl Gardiner warned against moving too quickly. “I have concern, that we are talking about lacking bandwidth given that we are going to change the school model and this needs to be so thoughtfully done” because “there are so many nuances and ways it could blow back.”
“It seems rather knee-jerk to me. Passions are high right now,” which is “usually not the greatest time to have really thoughtful approaches to things,” Gardiner said.
Vice Chairman Brendan Hayes supported the new goal and said he would like to get experts to guide the district.
Board member Dionna Carlson was opposed to moving forward fearing the added expense. “I don’t see dollars going toward an outside consultant or expertise. I would be disappointed in losing staffing in the classroom because we have a very tight budget this year,” she said. “I appreciate the need for it, but not this year.”
The district could move forward on this initiative without removing teachers, according to Assistant Superintendent Jill Correnty, “because we did bring in outside people last year to begin our professional development in February.”
She offered a middle ground, instead of bringing in an expensive consultant “to explore everything” the district could “offer professional development to our staff that can also work with our administrators.”
The district has already made efforts in diversity education with a new curriculum that came online in 2015. Since then, secondgrade students learn about the Middle East and fourthgraders learn about Africa, Correnty said.
“I think our students, in particular the high school level, want to have more educational opportunities,” Chairwomn Katrina Parkhill said.