ELSC addresses questions previously raised by community members.
Equity Leadership Steering Committee (ELSC) met at the GMS pavilion on August 17, 2021. Agenda included Committee Charter, Workshop 21/22 and Communication. Five community members were in attendance. Co-chairs, Tyler McGinley and Nick Whiston presented possible next phase for committee, a general overview of ELSC’s timeline of goals, and a revised communication approach.
Both Whiston and McGinley recommended that ELSC become a standing committee and the proposal be taken to the September 2 School Board meeting for a vote. Committee members discussed current ELSC structure and examined differences between an ad hoc committee versus a standing committee. At question is whether the ELSC should be chartered as a standing committee or be organized as an advisory committee.
Ann Maksymowicz conferred that “there is nothing temporary about equity work.” She stated, “the key to any equity work is that it is always ongoing. You are never going to reach a goal, no matter what!” There was agreement among ELSC members that inequity is always going to be a problem.
MSAD51 adopted policy BDE in 2009 (revised in 2014), which defines standing committees. Currently MSAD51 has two standing committees, Policy and Finance. McGinley referred to Maine School Management Association’s (MSMA) sample Policy BDF, provided by Steve Bailey (Executive Director). If the Board does not vote to approve converting ELSC to standing committee, McGinley recommended using sample Policy BDF as a “boilerplate” to define guidelines for ELSC.
Questions about membership, term length, reporting structure and public participation were considered. McGinley stated that any Board member can attend standing committee meetings, but only appointed members can vote. The Board chair appoints the standing committee chair. However, the Board chair and the Superintendent are ex official (non-voting) members of standing committees.
McGinley mentioned the need to explore public participation. Since its origin, the ELSC has been a 15-member committee comprised of both administrative and community members. McGinley referred to the updated list of 11 ELSC members. Currently there are 3 student positions, but the general consensus was to add a 4th student.
Of note is whether current members will be able to remain on the committee once the School Board confirms ELSC status. Details regarding number of members and term lengths cannot be finalized until Board votes on whether to approve ELSC as a standing committee. Decision on who can serve on the committee, community role as well as participation of nonmembers also must be defined.
McGinley will bring the ELSC recommendation that the committee become a standing committee to the School Board.
Whiston presented key milestones and a rough timeline as “a map of the big agenda items.” Whiston estimated equity policy would begin to be implemented Spring 2023.
An equity audit prior to implementation of equity plan was proposed. According to McGinley, other districts have used audits as a way to identify “holes” in their plan or any other needs. The goal is to conduct the equity audit by Fall of 2022.
McGinley recommended a “largescale community engagement” by the end of 2021, similar to past round-table public dinner events that were held in order to discuss the district’s Strategic Plan.
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Smaller outreaches in October and November could include anonymous surveys. Maksymowicz recommended more than one “public input night” and suggested using a Google form with parents and students. She volunteered to draft the questions for such a survey by next meeting.
Regarding the draft ACA policy, McGinley stated “the legal review is expected to be finished in September.” The Policy Committee would present the revised draft ACA policy at a School Board meeting for the “first read.”
Public and Board members would be given opportunity to provide feedback during the “first read.” Format would allow an open, conversational dialogue. It was also proposed to conduct a survey of faculty and community feedback, following the “first read.” Survey results will be examined, then presented at the “second read.”
After the policy committee reviews all feedback, a “second read” of the draft ACA policy will be scheduled, possibly October 4. McGinley recommended reaching out to USM-MAEC for guidance and discussing with Gorham and Yarmouth schools their policy process.
McGinley laid out the current efforts being made to create a better atmosphere of communication. ELSC meetings are now posted on the district calendar. McGinley and Whiston will present committee updates and timeline to the School Board at the September 2 meeting and continue to do so monthly. Maksymowicz spoke of an “over-blast” communication approach to “maximizing communication locations,” including letters home with children during the 1st week of school, the district newsletter, Superintendent Porter’s emails, and sending messages following each ELSC meeting. Including in first week of school communications was not
No date or location was selected for the September ELSC meeting, but McGinley will post it to the District calendar when confirmed.