2003_Human Rights Comm Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Eager asked Commissioners to provide assistance in improving participation in the Family and Community Outreach. She said that although 30% ofRAS students are students of color, few parents get involved in parent committees. Thelma McKenzie said that community outreach had been good at one time and askcd what has changed. Eager said that each school has varying needs and an individual feel so it is not easy to say what has changed. Eager said she thought the goals and action steps are ambitious but doable. She said many things are missing, including reviewing the cUlTiculum, but each year they will build on the previous year's successes. Eager is getting support from teachers, administrators and volunteers. Eager provided the Commissioners with notes from several focus groups that were conducted. Young adults of diversity, parents of diverse students and selected educators participated in the focus groups. The purpose of the meetings was to get infonnation to help develop the diversity plan. Commissioners congratulated Eager for her good work to create a diversity plan. They asked about COlmie Nicholson, the new principal for Roseville Area High School who starts July I. Commissioners asked Carolyn Curti to draft a letter to Ms. Nicholson welcoming her to Roseville and offering the Human Rights Commission as a resource for her. Members asked what specific actions could the Commissioners provide to Eager to support the Equity and Integration Plan. Eager responded that she needs help building the Parent Teacher Student Organizations (PTSO) at each school. In particular they want to increase the diversity of parents involved in the PTSO but have difficulty reaching some parents. Members suggested that information be sent in different languages and PTSO members go to where members of the different ethnic groups meet. Phil Crump suggested that the Commission invite PTSO representatives to an upcoming meeting to help strategize on reaching diverse communities. Thelma McKenzie thanked Johanna Eager for attending the meeting and for the leadership she has shown on these issues of diversity. Goal Setting Thelma McKenzie reviewed the Human Rights Commission Goal chmi that was developed last month. Several Commissioners did not provide Carolyn Curti with steps to complete the goals. She asked that Commissioners do so immediately so that the Commission can develop a manageable time line to complete the goals. Phil Crump said he will contact Superintendent John Thein to arrange a time sometime in September for Commissioners to meet with him. Howard Wagner asked Commissioners to suggest items to include in a welcome packet that would be distributed to all new teachers in the Roseville school system. Commissioners should send suggestions to Carolyn Curti who will send on to Howard Wagner. Steve Smith said he will contact the Partnership with Human Rights Education, a group that connects teachers with a person or group to discuss human rights issues. He will ask ifthere are any projects that the Commission could work on at an end of year project.