Deerfield School District 109 issued the following announcement on Aug. 11.
Parents, Students, 109 Staff, and Deerfield Community,
In early June, former superintendent Dr. McConnell sent an email to the community after the death of George Floyd. That email asked the entire District 109 community to “stand in solidarity against any blatant, covert, or systemic acts of racism, disrespect, and inequitable treatment of all people.” It also went on to speak of the responsibility we share to ensure a better future for this generation of students.
Since that time, many District 109 students, parents, staff, and community members have shared their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. At the Board of Education meeting in June, it was shared that the district would be forming a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. In July, we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves as co-chairs and provide a general overview. This email is to share the framework of the committee and invite stakeholders to submit an application to participate.
As we begin this important work, it is necessary to acknowledge that the goal of this committee is to engage in sustained conversation and action that help make impactful and lasting change. This will not be swift. It will not be a committee that meets for a few months and then is disbanded. The subcommittee structure may evolve over time. Those who serve as a committee member will meet regularly, but there will be opportunities for all stakeholders to join efforts along the way.
If interested in being considered for service on the DEI committee, please complete and submit this form by Thursday, August 13th. Additional details about the committee are provided below.
Timeline
Invitation to committee members will be extended in late August. The full committee will convene in early September, with subcommittees hosting their first monthly meeting in late September. The first progress update will be provided to the Board of Education at their November 16th meeting.
Subcommittee Membership
Subcommittees will have co-facilitators and approximately 8 members each. Membership will include staff, students, parents, and community members.
Subcommittees and Guiding Questions
- Partnered Learning: School and Community
- Where are there gaps in understanding for our community and staff, as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion?
- How can District 109 establish offerings that get the community discussing these topics more openly?
- What professional development topics/material for school staff, focusing on equity and race, should be part of their ongoing professional development?
- Student Voice and Creating an Inclusive Community
- What experiences can students share that can guide positive change for the next generation?
- In what ways can students and teachers partner to stimulate productive peer to peer dialogue on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
- What systemic and/or ongoing practices can be improved upon in Deerfield schools to broaden student perspectives about their community and beyond?
- Curriculum and Instruction
- What are the characteristics or qualities of equitable curriculum and instruction?
- What topics, titles, and concepts do students currently encounter in Deerfield 109?
- What stories and voices are missing from our curriculum that we should include?
- Kipling
- What community history do we need to explore?
- Included in the above, what is the history behind the name of Kipling school?
- As community schools, how do we collect feedback from all constituents about the school’s name?
- If we were to reach a point where a name change would be considered, how do we conduct that process to be inclusive?
Committee and subcommittee minutes will be housed on the dps109 website. Emails can also be sent to dei@dps109.org for committee review. Please note: this email inbox serves as more of a “suggestion” or “comment” box and a reply cannot always be guaranteed.
We are honored to serve as co-chairs and look forward to getting started.
Sincerely,
Danielle Arnold, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
Marcie Faust, Principal, South Park Elementary
Original source can be found here.
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