On August 9, 2021 I had the privilege of listening to many diverse opinions on the topic of equity. My takeaway from that evening is that our community wanted to be included in the process of defining what equity means within the Wilson School District. As a result of the August 9, 2021 town hall meeting, I recommended that we engage a group of parents, staff and students to assist in defining equity and to provide input on the draft equity policy presented as a first reading to the Wilson School Board on May 17, 2021.
The equity workshop is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 28 at 6 pm. We received over 50 applications from parents in the Wilson School District to participate in this workshop. This week, our board will review those applications (with the names of the applicants redacted) and choose a group of parents who represent different perspectives on the topic. The process the board will be using to determine the representatives will include reviewing all of the responses to the questions, and ensuring representation from across all parts of the district. Board members will score the applicants independently, and the top 12-15 point recipients will be invited to participate in the workshop. Those individuals who are selected will be notified by Friday, September 17.
In addition, our admin team has requested applications from students and staff for this workshop. Our team will be choosing those individuals, using the same methodology, to provide for a balanced approach to the conversation. We look forward to using the outcomes of this workshop to inform the next steps in the process of our equity work here at the Wilson School District.
Our District strives for continued excellence by meeting the needs of all students. The District also recognizes that the term equity may have a different meaning to those individuals not familiar with our Core Values and Guiding Principles. Therefore, I feel that it is important to share what equity means to me and why our team is engaged in this important work. Please note that the personal thoughts that I share on my blog may not represent the opinions of individual board members.
The PSBA definition of equity states, “Equity is the just and fair distribution of resources based upon each individual student’s needs. Equitable resources include funding, programs, policies, initiatives and supports that target each student’s unique background and school context to guarantee that all students have equal access to a high-quality education.” This definition can be used as a starting point for our community conversation.
The Wilson School District established our Core Values and Guiding Principles as a road map to assist in ensuring that all students have access to a high quality education. As an additional resource tool, the PSBA has published The Equity in Action Framework which identifies 7 steps for school districts to consider in leading this work. These steps also help to inform a common definition to assist in any equity work:
- Identify and understand your district’s demographics
- Analyze the data
- Define equity for your district and community
- Embed educational equity training into all levels of professional development for administration, staff, and board
- Pursue and practice cultural awareness and competence
- Analyze policies and practices with an equity lens
- Develop an action plan and/or policy to incorporate equity into your district structure
In summary, I firmly believe that equity helps remove barriers and provides an environment where all students can succeed. When every student has access and opportunity to the resources they need, the entire school system thrives. As we continue this work together as a community, I am confident that we will find common ground as I know that we all seek to do what is best for the students of the Wilson School District.