2007 Agendas and Packets - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

RoseviIle Human Rights Commission Meeting Minntes — April ii, 2007 Page 3 of 7 1 Ms. Eager noted that one o�the goals ol�the district was to bring in teachers who were culturally 2 competent no matter #heir race; and thaf even if there were no candidates of color applying for a 3 position, the district was hiring a person ta serve a diverse dis#rict. 4 5 Additional discussion included teacher retention efForts of the district specific to candidates of 6 coZor; development of networks to support teachers of color and seeking their input in the 7 recruitment process for mutual benefit; carnparable compensation rates in the district with othcr 8 districts; and ongoing work in developing leadership teams in the district. 9 10 Further discussion included recent media comments and articles regarding safety in tl�e schools 1 i and perceived racial tensions. 12 13 Dr. Thein offered to serve as host and invited commissioners ta lunch to walk the halls of the 14 school(s} during the day. Dr. Thein noted that schools are sirx�ilar to a small community, both 15 people and space, and noted that when that many people get together there will be incidents. Dr. 16 Thcin opined that while there would be issues and conflicts on any given day no matter what 17 ethnic demographic was in place, they were minimal and often embellished by media to sell 18 stories. 19 20 Additianal ciiscussion included feelings of isolation expressed by students andlor teachers and 21 whefher those feelings had anytbing ta do with race or ethnici.ty or were due to scheduling and 22 comfort levels; with the district comxnitted to providing an atmosphere for all staff and students 23 to excel and reach their highest possible level of achievement. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Specific incidents and/or cxperiences were shared with consensus shared that things were changing for the better; discussion regarding race-specific relations and tensioas based on world happenings, honne life tensions, and nattiral tendencies for segregating based on commonality and how to avoic€ stereotypes based on what the media teaches us. Ms. Eager noted that students had expressed interest in finding ways to mix morc with other groups rather than segregating themselves. 33 Further discussion brought concurrence that leadership and management set the example based 34 on thei.r tolerance level which allows children to respond to what they see from that leadership 35 and #hose role models. Ideas for promotiz�g com�rr�unity-building aaxd inter-group harrnony and 36 specific ways the city could partner with the schools beyond the Essay Contest were considered 37 along with ways to bring achievements on diversity goals evident in the elemcntary levels along 38 to the Middle School and High School students, with classroom formats {i.e., smal� learning 39 communities in Middle School) and curriculum settings in High School as students focus on a 40 specific track or discipline coming into the picture. 41 42 43 44 45 46 Additional discussion inciuded impacts of society, airwaves, and perceptions needing to be ovcrcome in teaching everyone how to handle issues of respect (i.e., buliying) and trzethodology. Regarding a specific partnership opportunity, Ms. Eager noted that the district's time is taken up in serving students az�d staff, but there was a gap in expanding ihe circle into the community.