SMFCSD Board Meeting 2020-06-29

001all right it is 702 p.m. on Monday June 29th 2020 I would like to call the special board meeting for the Board of Education for the stove Monroe Falls City School District to order please yeah here here right here and for the second second mr. Gummer a roll call please Betty oh hi brown hi right hi Johnson Bowers hi Whitaker hi all right the purpose for this special meeting is to read comments from the public we've called the meeting to order as a quick preface we are here to read these public comments that were submitted in advance at the June 22nd 2024 meeting presiding over that meeting I had decided that statements were too voluminous to read at once given the need to conduct the boards require business for that meeting there was no desire

002by the board to suppress the content of the statements banaz you will hear many of them are deeply personal it was my belief that no elected body should assign value to one statement over another and read some but not all of the submissions at the time we discussed setting a special meeting to read these statements and I lament enough not having this special meeting or setting this special meeting at that point hindsight being what I will now begin to read these statements in the order in which they were originally perceived submitters had the opportunity to amend or withdraw these statements and lastly I apologize in advance if I butcher any names or words or phrases that are used first statement that the board received was from Shon Blasco for three to five Conestoga trail and

003Copley mr. Belasco says I am a 2010 graduate Oh Stowe Monroe Falls High School and had been following the School Board's response to the recent black lives matters protests I recall my time in the district participating in student council National Honor Society Speech and Debate cross country track AP classes and other extracurriculars my successes in those activities and academics are regularly recognized and encouraged by the board this feedback loop encouraged me in difficult times and has a direct correlation to my accomplishments after senior year therefore I find it extremely disappointing to witness the board's lack of support toward the black lives matter movement or acknowledgement of its student Hortense to your students a joinder online meeting on June 8th anticipating at least one board member would express support for or simply affirm that black lives

004matter the topic appeared to be sidestep which indicates real change ie developing an action plan to support an anti-racist culture throughout the district or providing resources to increase the prominence of black history in the curriculum has no chance of gaining traction in my view and the views of many of my fellow alumni the longer the board waits to speak out casts an increasing shadow of doubt whether or not the district supports African American students I asked the board starts by stating on the record that black lives matter in this situation silence is consent what message are you sending to the next generation of students the second comment the board received was from David bud buddy again I apologize if I'm butchering names for 8/9 third Avenue in Brooklyn New York mr. buddy says black excuse

005me black people are dying while you're figuring out how to process and address these issues do the right things by your black students history is watching also it's not about students of color you have an ethical and moral obligation to get white students in line to having an anti-racist institution isn't hard you just have to commit and make changes bit by bit I'm attaching a resource that might help do the right thing he does attach a link it's a fairly long one it's available on the original statement I believe that was posted on the twenty second agenda next statement is from Chris Hendricks 21:02 strauber Street in Durham North Carolina mr. Hendricks says as a as an alumni of Stoke Public Schools and we're incredibly disappointed at the lack of support this district has shown

006for the black and indigenous people of color in your schools and communities particularly during these times of turmoil I encourage you to review statements made by neighboring school districts such as Kent City Schools and Twinsburg City Schools your silence is deafening at a minimum we need to see a statement of support from stove schools tell your students you are not only distressed about the current events but you plan to take actionable steps against racism tell them black lives matter this is not about a political statement this is about an expression of value in appreciation for marginalized communities faculty staff and students need educational opportunities to understand and discuss the impacts of systemic racism along with resources to guide anti-racist behaviors as a school district with over 90% white faculty staff and students you have a

007role and responsibility to educate and elevate community resources that support black indigenous and people of color please step ups though silence is not an option say it with us black lives matter our next statement is from Rebecca Alexander of 187 Fox Run Drive and Monroe Falls she says that my name is Bette Rebecca Alexander a graduate from the class of 2004 I love this community I'm proud of this community my formative education allowed me to grow up and become a successful published author there are no words to describe how grateful I am for that I'm grateful for the teachers who loved and supported me for the wisdom of Senora I Burr for mr. Pitt because creativity and mrs. bocce is kindness and I've heard from so many friends that they didn't feel supported as people

008of color growing up in the same school system we need to have an honest and hard conversation about the board and our system our community's response to black lives matter the hesitation and resin resistance to addressing systemic issues that is comfort and even just saying those three simple words black lives matter there are moments in history when you have to decide who you are and what you stand for this is one of those moments where we as a community must come together and say that we represent love acceptance and tolerance that we believe black lives matter and that we do not and will not tolerate racism saying black lives matter doesn't mean you're anti cop it's not some sort of self-loathing statement about whiteness it's a way of saying we recognize the problems that minority

009members of this community face that we see and acknowledge systemic police brutality that we understand the pain black community is going through right now and that we as a community support and will continue to support our men die our minority members at the last board meeting one of the board members expressed grief around some very serious and traumatic losses this community has faced and then asked us where we were then you went mute Jason you muted yourself Jason you're mute I mean I fix it I got something saying that someone who'd knew me I apologize all right all right where were we well we were in high school children 14 or 15 our biggest concerns were if the boy we liked liked us back if we passed our math test we couldn't comprehend the long-standing

010trauma of long-standing damage of trauma we didn't understand the types of mental health issues that caused people to commit suicide and we most definitely weren't talking about racial inequity because to be honest we weren't even taught what that was the real question is where the adults where were the adults who were supposed to be helping us but the point isn't to blame anyone it isn't about dwelling on the past of what we did and didn't happen because we have an opportunity to do it better to offer these kids more knowledge more comfort more resources than we have we can do that for them and I hope you'd all be proud of us the graduates of Stone Monroe Falls that we became socially conscious fair responsible adults then we actually gave a expletive that we work

011hard to ensure the world is better for the next generation that because of our formative education we want to offer this generation the opportunity to learn even more than we did so what do we want exactly consistent and visible that publicly visible updates from the new committee formed to address this topic revised curriculum to reflect about black history and include more black writers artists scientists etc during Black History Month and all year anti-racism training for the board teachers and most importantly counselors and a black lives matter sign at the school I stand with the minority and people of color communities of stove and Renault Falls our next letter is from Deborah Wang miss Wong writes black lives matter my name is Deborah Wang I'm a class of 2005 alumni I'm joining my classmates to urge

012the stove Monroe Falls School District to adopt an anti-racist action plan that will make the district worthy of his excellent rating I came up through snow schools as a chinese-americans I was treated as a model minority and benefitted greatly from it I was also regarded regrettably enculturated into the plight color blind brand of racism and white supremacy endemic to wealthy suburban areas like ours if any administrators or teachers from 15 years ago are still there you may remember me as the girl who left for Berkeley the distances I've traveled over the years have given me perspective on our hometown I know so is intimate as intimately as anyone born and raised there take up from a native daughter you have a racist white supremacists culture your school district is populated by the children raised by

013parents who have never had to acknowledge or grapple with the true history of this country your curriculum like the curricula around the country has been designed to whitewash over state-sponsored terrorism against indigenous people and black people especially the African descendants of slaves it's not wholly your fault America is like this everywhere but it is your problem and you need to do something about it the privilege afforded me by my racial triangulation cocooned me in ignorance about the racism suffered by my black and brown classmates I am only hearing their stories now I Gretsch regret to my core that I could not have stood in solid that I could not have stood in solidarity with them in school I am writing this in solidarity with them now black lives matter I urge the Stowe administrators and

014teachers to show immediate leadership to their students a community by one making a statement the black lives matter and to educating themselves on the history of white supremacy and how to dismantle it there are many books and resources resource lists available online i success I suggest beginning with the color of money or how to be an anti-racist in terms of the lasting plan for anti-racist work forming committees and vowing to make change is a nice start but in this community is going to take hard action consistency and transparency we must teach an affirm to students that it is not enough to pay lip service and say that racism is unacceptable we must be actively anti-racist in all aspects of our education and lives in order for Stowe Monroe Falls schools to achieve its mission of

015creating future generations of empowered learners and global citizens it might it must immerse students of all grades in complex historical discourse that highlights how racism and white privilege throughout the nation's history has perpetuated many of the issues we see today Stowe Monroeville schools must have a transparent process to have a high quality and diverse workforce it must actively make possible make it possible for both black students and all other students enroll in public education to benefit from the perspectives of higher black teachers several times throughout their K through 12 years is unacceptable to not have a teacher who looks like you until you have left your hometown lastly to promote a culture of acceptance and empathy those in leadership positions at each of the city's elementary middle and high schools should commit to effectively condemning

016every anti black act that happens in the classroom and more broadly on school property white supremacy and racism whether overt or covert should not be tolerated at any level teachers and staff should receive in depth cultural sensitivity training that directly addresses the challenges faced by black students and guides towards solutions at the community level townhall should be held regularly by the Board of Education and administrators at each school on addressing how to affirm how to reaffirm commitment and take consistent action against anti blackness at an interval determined by survey of black members of the community our next letter is from Charles Eppley of two six five eight Scranton Road number 312 in Cleveland dear board members I am a graduate 2004 graduate of stoven ro Falls High School I'm currently a faculty member at Oberlin

017College following the completion of my doctoral degree at Stony Brook University and a previous bachelor's degree at Hiram I owe a lot to my lot of my professional excessed to a high-quality education in the stove school system even if I did not totally appreciate it at the time and honestly did not receive excellent grades however I also understand and know that my personal and professional success is directly related to my white privilige and middle-class upbringing the racial economic and cultural circumstances that allow me to make mistakes without life-altering penalty the circumstances and intentional generational wealth that provide me financial stability security and the free time to pursue my personal interests including higher education in the reality that I as a white person can move through the world without threat and delivery of violence these circumstances

018my privileges are at the center of my success and are not available to all members of our society racism is not limited to intentional actions by individuals or acts of deliberate hate racism is a broad systemic force in our society which has organized all aspects of our government our cultural our culture our laws our homes and our schools the city of Stowe is diverse economically racially and politically I am writing to ask how does this how does the high school plan to move forward as an institution in our current social transformation if broad cultural reckoning with the legacy of racism in this country from slavery and Jim Crow discrimination to its current manifestation in the forms of mass incarceration police violence and institutional systemic racism what plans as a school board have for addressing the

019disproportionate killing of black people in this country and to not only make its students feel safe but to give them the same support and encouragement before it's black for its black students at this moment of social transformation which as you know is plagued by reactionary violence both political and physical and political against black people what sort of programs or initiatives with this will the school adopt to correct decades of legal social and financial discrimination against the black communities in a shared home of Stowe here are a few suggestions I will I believe will help and as was discussed with mr. Eppley I'm just going to read the bullet points instead of all of the follow up make a public statement of support to black lives matter review and revise the social curriculum to include black

020studies and perspectives create scholarships for black students work with black students to create an anti racism initiative at the high school hire black teachers fund fund black student groups remove police from the halls into classrooms and support young queer and trans black students and students of color thank you for listening and your consideration like yourselves I am an educator and I understand that this is a difficult difficult conversation I also understand that there are budget and political concerns that arise in such discussions however I believe that our shared responsibility goes beyond public statements and includes proactive actions such as those outlined above to fight and and anti-black racism in this country I hope that you agree and are eager to let's toe be a leader in Northeast Ohio on this crucial social transformation I'm happy

021to talk further and provide additional resources at any time and again mr. F Lee's full statement is going to be attached to the minutes from the 22nd meeting our next statement is from Eren Jaeger to 6:9 West 146 Street apartment 3b in New York New York I'm Erin Jaeger Stowe hi oh six a friend and former classmate told me that the board has not yet has not said anything about the most important thing happening right now besides the virus the black lives matter movement I'm very disappointed when I attended so high it was not diverse and I doubt anything has changed well that's not anyone's fault to an extent it's also why I left Ohio and moved to New York City Ohio has a diverse popular s'ti problem at least though does and other suburbs

022like it which make a large part of Northeast Ohio as a whole I literally cannot remember having any teachers of color at the high school when I attended forgive me if I'm wrong what I do remember though is being taught that the reason why the Civil War happened was because of states rights it happened because of the same thing that's happening right now slavery in the form of prisons lynchings and the list goes on sadly I urge you to do something anything about black lives matter Stowe like everywhere needs to do better the sin of omission is just as bad as the sin that's being done openly the next statement is from Jacqueline Frye 2 9 7/8 overview drive and Stowe hello my name is Jacqueline Frye I'm a class of 2005 alumnus I am

023appalled of the irresponsible lack of awareness in general understanding school board members council members and educators have district demonstrated in recent days regarding race relations the topic of race in this country is necessary to speak about it because because it directly and clearly affects the fabric of oppression in the schools that teach our children after graduating from Stowe I lived and worked across our country California Washington Oregon and Texas proudly serving with AmeriCorps where I learned how to support various institutions and community agencies I was wholeheartedly embarrassed in my lack of education regarding the history of this country disparities based on race and systemic oppression continuously upheld by people in power my fellow classmate explained it well Stowe was populated by children raised by parents who never had to acknowledge a grapple with the true

024history of this country Stowe's curriculum like curricula around the country has been designed to whitewash over state-sponsored terrorism against indigenous people and black people especially African descendants of slaves black lives matter I urge the Stowe administrators to send teachers to show leadership empathy and a commitment to learning to their students and community by making a statement that black lives matter and educated themselves on the history of white supremacy and how to dismantle it immediately as an alumnus of Stowe and a mental health professional on the brink of graduation I want more for my community I want more for our children there are many book and resource lists available online one book I found galvanizing was post traumatic slave syndrome America's legacy of enduring injury and healing by dr. Joy degree our next statement is from

025Jody Boyer of 709 McQueen Street in Austin Texas miss Boyer writes that she is an alumni of the high school 2004 in her half-siblings a recent alumni I having a tremendous amount of gratitude for the kindness care and safety that has been shown by his teachers staff and students in light of my brother's special needs being of a different generation than my siblings I grew at a time when the word was casually thrown around on playgrounds with that thought or consequence as my brother entered school I worried about the bullying and Prejudice he would face instead he graduated this year but surrounded by a support system of teachers staff and fellow students yes kindness and compassion start at home but as we know in the business world the culture of an organization can affect an

026individual I believe that it was those culture of inclusivity that empowered my brother to thrive unfortunately I fear that the same feelings of safety inclusion and empowerment are not reaching some students within your district by remaining neutral about black lives matter the district is sending the wrong message to the students who need your support inclusion and protection more than ever your students rely on you for guidance and like all students they trust you with with they trust you will express that they belong students of color should feel welcome and safe in your heart in your hallways sadly I know this is not always the case I also know that you alone are not responsible for ending decades of systemic racism however if your school starts starter the chain of inclusivity I believe it could shift

027the climate it all starts with education it's time for a clear path of action recommitting the district to a culture that honors diversity fosters inclusivity and will not tolerate racism I ask you to stand with me and telling your people I'm telling your people of color students and alumni that they matter their experiences matter and black lives matter please don't let your silence speak for you our next statement is from Kay crooner of one six three seven Lenox Road Northeast in Atlanta Georgia my name is Kay crooner and I graduated from stobe Monroe Falls High School in 2006 as you know recent protests in the US have led to a national conversation on a topic that has been plaguing black communities for decades where we are living in a somber time it is also a

028time filled with hope an opportunity to show up from our minority neighbors class and colleagues I write to ask you to commit to adding diversity inclusion education in our school system I know this is tough and it's easy to misstep as white allies but silence is not the answer you are leaders in this community your voice matters and people will listen thank you and please reach out to me if you have any questions our next statement is from gabriela house one six seven one six nel berry of Avenue in Cleveland says Gabriella a couple suggestions on house though can move forward to support people of color one redo the proposed statement that was uploaded tonight's agenda you have intentionally capitalized the words all in every which is belittling the black lives matter movement and is

029not acknowledging the problems in the district but enforcing them instead at black lives matter just to the district in capital letters and that you will try to do better to please add more diversity to your teaching staff I shouldn't have to I shouldn't have had to wait until middle school to have my first teacher of color and three add to your K through twelve history curriculum I embarrassed to say that I never learned about some important events excuse me I'd never learned about some important events that affected black lives in the past also please teach what actually happened not just the version people want shared I loved Stowe and I would love for you to acknowledge and be proud of your diverse students and support them willingly not just because you feel pressured to do

030so I know you can do better and I expect nothing less our next letter is from Cara Byrne one two two four Oxford Road in Cleveland Heights dear board members I am a 2005 graduate of the high school and currently work as a professor at Case Western Reserve University I joined other alumni to encourage you to make your commitment to fostering an educational setting that is anti racism and to clearly demonstrate your support for faculty students and staff and community members of color I'm grateful to read board president Whitaker's recent statement that says there is no place for any form of racism or discrimination at Stough Monroe Falls schools I asked president Whitaker and the board to clarify this remark I also I would like to know more about how the district plans to as

031president Whitaker states come together to address the issues of serious concern as neither the superintendent nor the board has made a statement to the larger community addressing the deaths of George Floyd or Brianna Taylor and the nationwide calls to seek equity for those historically and currently oppressed and discriminated against I hope that you consider doing so now while I realized that you are managing the challenges of our current pandemic this is also a crucial moment in history that challenges us to all be critical of injustice and racial privilege especially those that exist in our schools I hope that you live up to your commitment to empower each learner to be a self-motivated successful citizen in a global society by teaching students how to stand up against racism and discrimination this begins with our actions and

032words I write today not only as an alumni but also as someone whose nieces and nephews currently attends those schools I have a great appreciation for the education I receive and that they receive but there is room for improvement in cities across the country including stove I hope you join neighboring districts including Kent and Hudson and making up help in making a public statement and I would also like to share my current district Oh Cleveland University Cleveland Heights University Heights this letter to read and consider black lives matter there are links in that letter that are also available on the original document our next statement is from Madeline Koehler of 325 P Street Southwest apartment 901 C in Washington DC my name is Maddy Koehler I'm an alumna asto Monroe Falls High School class of

0332010 I attended the Highland Lakeview Kimpton and the high school I'm calling on the district to take this historic opportunity to reflect on and address the ways in which it contributes to systemic racism by not teaching it in classrooms anti racism begins in the classroom with students understanding that government laws and profits and businesses were designed to benefit a privileged few and perpetuate rest racism today I took an AP Economics AP US history an AP US government classes that I loved and directly led to the career in public policy that I have today and I was not aware of the systemic oppression that occurs in every facet of life when I graduated from the high school the district continues to do a disservice to his students by not informing them of the oppressive structures that

034surround them and how to counteract them should students have the chance I feel a responsibility in my privileged position of designing public policy to not contribute to the systems that have oppressed black people people of color native people people with low incomes and other in other under-resourced communities these are skills I wish I learned in school from a young age well the district commit to training teachers on anti racism and requiring that systemic oppression be addressed throughout more than just one lesson humanities classes is a necessity if the district is interested in fostering the leaders of the future our next submission is from Heather Walter five to nine Willow crow Drive in Monroe Falls I am writing after seeing the statement of black lives matter you were voting on at Monday's meeting I'm concerned about

035the lack of clarity and stating the value of black lives and black students I feel strongly at your statement needs to do a better job of committing to enact actual policy changes that that will protect those students I have already seen similar statements from across the country and region that would serve as excellent models for your statement I am particularly concerned by the sentence near the end saying that you want to include all student populations yes all students are important but this statement should be about the black ones using all diminishes the power of the protests diminishes the importance of our students who are hurting right now and diminishes the necessity to make real change specifically for them as educators and standard bearers for the district's educational process it is necessary to educate yourselves on

036this issue there is substantial research highlighting the great disparity between black and non black students in the way that they are treated due to implicit and explicit biases just two years ago the Government Accountability Office found that black students are more likely to be disciplined more likely to be suspended and more likely to have their behavioral issues escalated to law enforcement than their white counterparts engaging in the same behavior according to the Department of Education data from 2012 black boys are suspended three times more than white boys and black girls are suspended six times more than point girls it is this type of disparity which requires a greater look into our systems but leaning toward harsher treatment to children of color to truly protect out all the student populations we must face some difficult self-reflections

037to examine the disparity that exists in the stove in row falls district and how we can change it the district must be committed to facing some uncomfortable truths and recognizing that there is more to racism than the overt and perfect purposeful hate that one might exhibit willingly school should be a safe place for all children to learn our students should be able to trust that we will put their safety and education above all else children should see our schools as modeling systems of fairness and justice none of this can happen if we don't figure out why it isn't safe for black children and why we aren't a model of fairness and justice none of this can happen if the district doesn't claim in strong language that we will stand for racial and we will not

038stand for racial intolerance we will not accept any disparity on the basis of race we can fix this we can make snow Monroe falls a district where as you say all student populations are supported and included but in order to get there we must make a commitment to our black students it is time to say black lives matter our next statement is from Miguel Miguel Carvalho I have been frustrated by a noticeable lack of a response to to denouncing systemic racism police brutality and the very minimum saying black lives matter over your social media platforms since the murder of George Floyd I'm a person of color alumni who went through the very hallways you represent and have countless stories of myself and my peers being bullied tormented and ostracized by peers and teachers alike it's

039those schools stoas 91 percent Caucasian and I assure you the other nine percent know it and feel it every day whether it be in Fish Creek Kimpton high school or even going to target their handles I am speaking out for my peers and a teacher who did not survive high school for my band director Linda Kellum she loved her students and connected with each one that she taught she took her own life - after a skiing trip in January of 2002 during the second half of my freshman year the other band directors were amazing sources of comfort and helped us lead us through our grief like a family for my friend George garrison we were Boy Scouts together and his father was a professor at Kent State George committed suicide with his father's service rifle

040at 14 in 2003 after being bullied for being tall lanky and black one of my worst memories of high school was passing out flyers at his funeral and seeing all of his friends crying right along with the people who bullied him for Shawn blackwell who was so funny and likeable and ready to enlist in the Navy he was 17 in 2005 my senior year when his body was pulled out of Crystal Lake after taking his own life Sean was bullied as well for being different for being smart and being black for Billy parofsky my friend who went down a dark road after graduation mental health issues left Billy with little options for sustainable employment and for reasons unknown Billy was knocking on doors in a stone neighborhood one night in 2017 the police officer who

041took him to the havens of rest would end up shooting Billy twice in the chest on a sidewalk after an argument I carry these stories with me every single day and I am thanked that I have been able to find support and understanding through my throughout my life to fight my own trials with grace ISM in the community and to keep their memories alive when I was in Stowe schools though I often felt alone and knew my my people of color peers did too I need to see at a minimum the new statement from so schools not just talking about something a staff member said and even an umbrella statement about racist language and being distressed by certain current events tell your students you are not just distressed by current events your willingness starting to

042take an active stance against racism in all forms and will be a place where students of color can feel safe first and foremost your website stats says at Stowe schools you provide inspiration to make a difference in the world make a difference in the community first and watch more students become inspired there they are watching my name is Miguel Carvalho and I want you to do better black lives matter our next statement is from Amy gray of 673 Stonewater Drive in Kent I understand that you are working on a public statement regarding racism and how the district plans to address this issue in its schools I ready to ask that you not shy away from stating explicitly that the lives of your black students and staff matter and that you're committed to educating your entire

043student body and staff regarding racism including systemic white privilege racial biases et cetera I am writing to you not only as a Stoke en't area community and Month community member and mother but also as a licensed mental health counselor racism has well-documented adverse mental health effects on people of color racial trauma is real and something that some of our students and staff may have may be affected by by taking it all that all lives matter approach to this issue you would be dismissing the very real experiences of members of your school community trauma expert vessel van der clock van der Kolk explained for those of you who wish to leave politics out of dealing with trauma I wish to remind you that trauma is all about living under social conditions where terrible things are allowed

044to happen and the truth cannot be told declining to face a name racism is allowing it to happen without the truth being told the statement you ultimately release has the ability to tell students that you see them believe them in our community keeping them safe or it has the ability to tell students staff and the community that not being political is your priority I ask that you use Akron City Schools Decorah a declaration of racism as a public health crisis as an example of how to properly address this topic a particular note are the following paragraphs there is a long history of racism discrimination and segregation within our country well over 400 years of chattel slavery followed by de facto inclusion which is adversely affected and impacted educational and economic outcomes for many racial groups

045specifically black citizens the preponderance of research suggests that this history has had a lasting detrimental impact on the educational outcomes of black students and others through curriculum discipline and climate racism has determined to be has been determined to be a social debt detriment of health inequities through its direct physiological impact on an individual and population health as well as indirectly through the impact on educational socio-economic and other social structures which can lead to negative health term long term health outcomes addressing racism head-on not only benefits your student of color but prepares your entire student population for a successful life in a diverse world thank you for your consideration our next statement is from Pamela wind good evening my name is Pamela wind and I reside at four five five eight Chatwood drive Stowe I am

046writing to express deep disappointment with the way our district is not addressing the issue of racism within our district I was distant initially encouraged when I heard that listening sessions were underway however the district has not handled the extremely racist excuse me I was again encouraged when I found out that the board was drafting a statement on racism however when I read the draft statement it started out strong only to end with all capital words all and every my white children have never felt that they were not welcome in the district due to the color of their skin this is not about every student this is about doing better for our black students this is about letting our black students and Families know that they have absolutely a place here black lives matter and we

047need to do better need to do so much better than this as a majority white district from board members to administration and faculty to the students engaging in race-based bullying we must do better not only must the statement be stronger we need action toward that and I would like to know what the district is doing or plans to do to address the following one ensuring that all board members and staff especially teaching staff are thoroughly educated in the systemic nature of racism in this country and how to be actively anti-racist to how diverse is our staff and is it reflective of our student population do our black students have black teachers at some point during their time in our schools if those staff are not present what will we do to address this three ensuring

048that our curricula are not what are not whitewashing history or current events and ensuring that the stories of black people by black people are included throughout our K through 12 curricula throughout the school year for knowing that students of color are overall disciplined more frequently and more harshly in this country what are we doing to track discipline and to ensure that we are not engaging in discriminatory discipline policies and practices five knowing that many of our black students and families have multiple stories of being treated treated in discriminatory ways what are we doing to actually address these issues share with staff during the listening listening sessions what actions will be taken as a result of our families bravely sharing their painful stories six what is the plan to deal with specifically race-based bullying how is

049it addressed if one student calls another the n-word for example hopefully this is dealt with differently than simple name-calling as it is different in both intent and impact what are we doing to do what are we going to do district-wide to engage in prevention of this behavior in responding when it happens what mental health resources are we providing the students bullied in this way and are those services culturally appropriate and 7 most importantly what are we as a district doing to ensure that black students feel welcome in our schools I look forward to hearing the answers to these questions soon thank you for your time our next statement is from gender Bakos five four four Fairchild Avenue in Kent if the school board wishes to take up the mantle of drafting a statement on anti

050racism that ensures that black students and staff indeed feel welcomed invited and important the statement proposed on tonight's agenda woefully and embarrassingly misses that mark it should not take global protests to move a district to stand against racism and discrimination that said late is better than not at all the statement as it is written does not at all direct and in fact appears to seek to avoid accountability the statement in its in its current form is unacceptable and a grave disservice to the staff students and families of this district either make a statement that stands strong and support of the black students staff and families of this district or let your silence speaks volumes black lives matter black lives matter in Stowe and black lives matter in Monroe falls in black my black lives must

051matter to the school board if black lives do not matter to this board then you have no business sitting in those seats as an endeavour of support what I hope isn't it as an endeavor to support what I hope is an earnest effort the stone Monroe Falls School Board to adequately appropriately and actively support anti racism in the district I have adjusted the current statement to one that is direct and hold the board accountable of the community our mission at Stoke Monroe Falls City School District is to provide inspiration to make a difference in the world no inspiration can be found when our students and staff feel unwelcome uninvited or unimportant in support of the movement for black lives we as the board must re-evaluate our district's approach to equity and inclusivity and racism and

052discrimination as a predominantly white school district we have too often been blind to the racism and discrimination faced by our black students and staff we have at we have not adequately promoted inclusive equitable anti-discriminatory culture within this district and in this community and it is incumbent upon us to change what we have policies in place to discourage racism in our schools words are there with words without action are meaningless in an effort to better understand how we as a district can support black students staff and families on Friday June 5th the stove mint rolls stove Monroe Falls district organized a listening luncheon where black community members were invited to share their experiences we aim to transform that information into action through a committee on inclusivity led by our K through six curriculum director Aisha Collier

053River View Elementary Principal Tracy Koz match elementary aesthetic director Kyle Feldman and superintendent Tom Bratton the purpose of this community committee is to establish a vision to find goals develop action steps to promote equity in our schools the board looks forward to hearing and acting upon that work to support include and inspire our entire student population black lives matter to this board in this community and we are committed to real and appreciable change that will prove that will provide a truly inclusive community for every student our next statement is from dr. Jim and Cheryl's David Jamison of 777 Shannon Road in Cleveland Heights we are the parents of two students who attend who attended Stowe schools one of whom graduated from Stowe High School in 2005 our son Miguel Jamison Carvalho is a young man

054of Paraguayan heritage during his time in Stowe school system we regularly encountered experiences tainted by systemic racism including district disciplinary practices as well as a lack of sensitivity on the part of many teachers regarding the handling of racist attitudes and remarks by students additionally my husband and I were Scout leaders from Macau and many of his friends were who were black Latino and asian-american these statements reflect not only on our family's experiences but of those young men in our Cub Scout den and Boy Scout troop I distinctly remember one instance incident where Miguel a black student and a white student were involved in an incident where a wristwatch was damaged at an altercation at the gym while attending Kimpton police officers were called to talk with only the black student while our son received in-school

055suspension and the white student received no disciplinary action whatsoever after working with these teens and scouts we can attest that the black student was always the best-behaved of the three boys and calling the police was totally unnecessary another student Jorge garrison was also part of our Scout troop bullying and racist encounters at Stowe high school were major factors in his suicide another horrifying incident occurred in the Oasis curricula McKim ttan while students study the Holocaust a math teacher gave an assignment where students were asked to compute how many Jews could fit in a boxcar after eight years in the stove city school system our daughter Rachel Jamison chose to finish her high school career at Roosevelt High School she made this choice based on the racist incidents that she observed her brother and his friends

056experiences experiencing as well as the cliques at Kimpton that were very difficult to manage this was an excellent decision for her despite our daily drive to and from Roosevelt as an educator and social worker we have several suggestions for improving the school system for students of color one all teachers should annually engage in training to confront racist attitudes not only within the student body but also among some members of the current of the teaching staff and administration to history books and curriculum should be geared should be geared to more accurately teach black Latino Native American Asian and other minority groups experiences in the United States three diversity should be welcomed and celebrated for indeed black lives matter as well as the lives of all persons of color and for all incidents of racist behavior among

057students but amongst both students and teachers should result in disciplinary action our next statement is from Cathy's artists of two to five Lindsay Road and Monroe fault I write to you today speaking out against racism in our local national and global community you must take every opportunity to take a stand and make our voices heard against racism and social and justices I speak out in support of our black students and the schools and families in the community and for all families in the school district black lives matter our community must do better we must be better for the future of our students please make a statement on behalf of our students in our future to let them know that black lives matter our next statement is from the Reverend John Corsi the pastor at st.

058Stephen Lutheran Church in Stowe from its from its inception and even beyond today the Bible has been and will be used to perpetrate in and enforce racism don't believe me Kirk Google scripture and racism or scripture and slavery or the sons of ham for just for starters there are more subtle race examples of racism two examples from Scripture and from everywhere else this is a horrible legacy which I which I recount here simply to say that I am NOT innocent I am not so naive as to think we can simply fix this nor am i successful enough and having helped end this problem I don't have white guilt not real what I have is an utter weariness at watching us each to eat ourselves alive by sewing anything that even remotely undermines other human beings

059in our community trust take year takes years to build seconds to break and forever to repair and this is an issue of building trust this is an issue of deep-seated shadow spaces within ourselves and within our community if all lives matter then help us and lead us in building trust a communal characteristic that benefits us all ensure that your hiring practice are not only equitable but deliberately and actively reparative of trust by going so far as to seek out candidates of color include curriculum and books that depict people of color such as they are as worthy of trust and respect we likely won't solve this problem today but we can and we should start down the path of restored trust a community of people who trust each other will be long-standing and beneficial to all

060you can ensure this happens our next statement is from Monica Robinson 4:03 five Redwing trail and Stowe it has been 27 days since I woke up to the news of another black man dying at the hands of police 10 years ago when we adopted our first black son had no real understanding of what it means to be black in America let alone to be black and Stowe as our sons have grown we have faced increasing racial biases and outright racism I've waited for the superintendent of the board to take this opportunity to write to address racism in our district was this from with a strong statement condemning it and making sure that every student and parent knows that will not be tolerated unfortunately you have not done that with this statement many other districts have

061addressed it very clearly I am an employee of Hudson City Schools not only did our superintendent address at our board even made a resolution condemning racism my son's deserve to be educated in a district that firmly states that black lives matter of course all lives matter but at this time the message that black lives matter needs to be loud and clear you see all lives aren't having to teach their kids at the dinner table how to not navigate systemic racism and microaggressions fueled by ignorance and hatred we can and must do better than this statement you are proposing the black students in our district deserve it and their parents demand it this statement felt very obligatory you mentioned a black lives matter was stated with a negative connotation our family is asking that you clearly

062state where the district stands concerning the black lives you have the opportunity to educate we then expect definitive action that would support your clear conviction and no tolerance policy concerning racism in the district our next statement is from Heather Saul three four five four Oh crow dance though so and our school district has a problem with race it's an uncomfortable truth as a white stone Monroe Falls Monroe Falls graduate with white children that are students students in the district it is a truth that I have haven't always known or acknowledged and yet it must be accepted if we have any chance of making appreciable change for the students of our district it has been an unprecedented few weeks for our nation I witnessed a group of young adults students in our district organized and passionately

063agitate for something bigger than themselves my young daughter a student at Lake you drew a black lives matter sign and marched with them her very first protest I was so proud of all of them and yet simultaneously I was and still am ashamed I ashamed I am ashamed of the people who have driven past and spat on cursed at and gestured rudely at these students on the corner with their signs I am ashamed of the actions of fellow residents online ridiculing and antagonizing those that have shared their stories and experiences of racism here in Stowe and I am ashamed of our school district for sitting silently these past few weeks when so many other districts have spoken up I'm ashamed of our district for being presented excuse me the statement on racism that the district

064has put together is woefully inadequate you state that the mission of the Stowe Monroe Falls City School District cannot be accomplished if students or staff feel unwelcome uninvited or unimportant and yet you conclude your statement on racism by doing just that rather than stating that you embrace the opportunity to support and include the black student population in our school district you instead use the phrase all student populations in our school district you even have the nerve to capitalize it you boldly and proudly stand up and say all lives matter when you should be saying black lives matter instead of saying that is important that black students have a sense of belonging appreciation safety and inclusivity in our classrooms you shirk your duty to do what is right and say it is important that every member

065does my white daughter's have never felt like they didn't belong weren't appreciated or safe or that they were included because every single student in their class looks just like them you it to the students of color in this district to make a better statement than that it's too little much too little but it's not too late to do what is right black lives matter in this nation in the state and in this district our next statement is from Anita Jones black lives matter . and miss jones I apologize lives at one eight nine B Higby Drive in Stowe I'll start over black lives matter full stop at this moment in our history it is a simple affirmation that lets black members of the community know that we are valued accepted and loved if we've seen

066it painted on streets worn on t-shirts stated in advertisements and affirmed by representatives from various sectors of our communities we have not seen it from the stove Monroe Falls City School District after teachers and administrators from the district as well as members of your board listen to black parents release the words of racism endured by their black son's in the district I thought the statement released would be stronger and more specific the experiences shared in that meeting are unique to black students those students and parents deserve to know what the district values them and then it's working to eradicate the racism and discrimination they face we as parents as black parents and community members deserve to hear this district say black lives matter privilege allows you to ignore the problems of racism because you don't

067face them black students and parents can't ignore racism we must face it we must deal with it racism is a daily anxiety inducing concern for black people in any community including Stowe and Monroe Falls it is comforting to know that the people we trust to educate our children are concerned with the issues that affect them it is dishonest to say that all lives matter with the racist incidents happening in our nation in our community without specifically affirming that black lives matter our next statement is from Mariah Roberts of 9:06 25th Street northeast and Canton black lives matter my name is Mariah Roberts I'm a white female alum class of 2005 I am writing to echo the concerns of my friends and former classmates I'm disappointed this though has yet to release a statement supporting black

068lives matter and that the action you're taking to makes those safe for those outside of the majority specifically for people of color I no longer live in Stowe and yet I find myself reaching out in this community to ask for you to speak out and make it better for the children young adults coming through your classes now please hear the stories of my friends and classmates reflect on them take action from these stories included here are some actions that alumni of color are proposing actions that would have made their time and so better and safer these are gifts use them listen to them implement them please from your positions of power and leadership set an example of how to move forward and be better starting with the following forming committees and vowing to make changes

069a nice start for this community is going to take hard action consistency and transparency we must teach and affirm to students that it is not enough to pay lip service and say that racism is unacceptable you must be actively anti-racist in all aspects of Education in our lives in order for Stoke Monroe Falls schools to achieve its mission of creating future generations of empowered learners and global citizens it must immerse students of all kraid's and complex historical discourse that highlights how racism and white privilege throughout the nation's history has perpetuated many of the issues we see today Stowe Monroe Falls schools must have a transparent process to have a high quality and diverse workforce must actively make it possible for both black students and all other students enrolled in publication education to benefit from the

070perspective of higher black teachers several times throughout their K through 12 years it is unacceptable to not have a teacher who looks like you until you have left your hometown lastly to promote a culture of acceptance and empathy those in leadership positions at each of the city's elementary middle and high schools should commit to it effectively condemning every anti black act that comes that it happens in the classroom more broadly on school property white supremacy and wait racism whether overt or covert should not be tolerated at any level challenges faced by black students and guides through solutions at the community level townhall should be held regularly by the Board of Education and administrators at each stone Monroe Falls school on addressing how to reaffirm the commitment and take consistent action against anti blackness and an

071interval determined in survey of black members of the commune our next statement is from Antoinette East Jenkins of won 6-0 North River Road in Monroe Falls to say that I'm disappointed in saddened regarding the statement being put out concerning racism inequity in the district is an understatement unfortunately I'm not surprised I was hopeful a few weeks ago when I was asked to attend the posture of listening meeting but that hope quickly diminished what has happened however is a campaign I apologized well I'm glad that the district is reevaluating it's a its approach to inclusion and equity there is no point in doing so if you are not willing to do the hard work the statement I read is weak at best and it is an insult in my opinion the use of all and every

072in capital letters makes it clear that the message really is an all lives matter message and not really in support of black lives matter in a completely tone-deaf to the current circumstances if you are not prepared to take a stance the black lives matter it would be better to make no statement at all no one is suggesting that all lives matter however all lives are not in jeopardy of dying in the streets under the knee of law enforcement all lives are not disciplined and suspended at higher rates all lies to not feel uncomfortable in their schools and community based on the color of their skin all lives are not subjected to negative stereotypes and racism and everything they do and see all lives don't deal with implicit bias and microaggressions on a daily basis I

073am usually so proud of so but today is not one of those days well I appreciate the community and you the committee and the attempt at working towards a better tomorrow it cannot be done with the voice of one black person part of the problem with the statement is that is clear that it was crafted without the voice of or even thought of the feelings of black people in the district Kent Dublin Hudson Tallmadge and Akron have made strong statements about racism and Akron has declared racism a public health crisis I accept I expect more from though because I am not typed to complain without offering solutions I would be happy to serve and bring additional resources with me to help us get to a place where black students and staff feel welcome safe and

074wanted our next statement is from Megan Ratigan of three one nine hi wood Avenue in Monroe Falls I am writing as a parent community member and taxpayer to hold my schools accountable I have high expectations for my school district and expect them to make sure students are getting the best educational experience possible as a country we are facing one of the biggest public health crises in recent memory racism I am the mom of two recent graduates of the stove Monroe Falls schools and both had excellent experiences in school however their experiences were different than some of their friends and classmates because they are white their skin color allowed them to never experience the racism that their friends and classmates did I'm asking the board to make it clear and a strong statement that racism is

075not acceptable and that black lives matter no student in the school district should ever feel that their district and schools do not have their best interest in mind that means that you must let our black students know that their lives matter this is the time to be on the right side of history and make the right choice and right now it does not appear that this is the case for our students of color please work together to make a strong statement in support of our black students and families the next statement is from Sarah Herron actually Sarah and Michael Herron of 2 6 3 1 our mintage place thank you for reading my letter with all this currently happening in our country and the increasing visibility of violence and hatred toward black Americans we are

076grateful that the board has chosen to take a stand to show our schools and our community that will not allow this hatred in Stowe and Monroe Falls when we read the proposed statements we were very encouraged about what began as a strong show of support for black students and teachers the discussions that have already been done and the promise of action plans to do to address discrimination in our schools is a step in the right direction we are disappointed however that the statement is not clearly an open at least eight the black lives matter as white parents of white students we have never felt as if they do not belong or are not supported you do not need to tell us or the 85 percent of the district that looks like us that you support

077all students and staff and want to ensure a sense of belonging for every student the black students parents and staff need to hear that the district supports them now specifically please show that you do our our next statement is from Nora Brian of four six four six Phillip court and Stowe my name is Nora Brian and I will be a senior at Stowe this year the recent movement with the black lives matter movement and the current events that have been happening in this world to people of color have been heartbreaking to me and many others in the community especially people of color as you may know there are residents in the community from different ethnic backgrounds and Stowe is a mainly white and relatively wealthy community making it crucial that we stand up speak out

078and support the people of color in our city so they know they are seen heard and loved by the rest of the white community because we have so much privilege it is necessary to speak up and use it to let the community know that we support them and it is unacceptable to say all lives matter because the black community is being actively oppressed even though it is true that all lives do matter they simply cannot until black lives matter as well I urge you to please educate yourself on the current events and what is appropriate to say and not to say in order to show that you support everyone in your city using your privilege is so important in order to educate others and spread awareness if you if you feel threatened or offended by

079black lives matter please educate yourself and check your priveledge and you would find that it is very offensive interet and ignorant nobody said that all lives didn't matter but black lives are in danger and the people in this community need to let the black community know of Stowe know that they are safe protected and loved as a white woman I have never felt threatened by a police officer or feared death while being pulled over that's a simple example of my privilege I want everyone to know that all lives matter is not appropriate to say if you support everyone in the community I will protest every day outside City Hall until it is known that those supports people of color and will be treated as equals please take this into consideration before making any statements that

080would be offensive or inappropriate our next statement is from Melanie Merritt two five eight four cherry blossom Circle and Stowe I was incredibly disappointed to read a recent letter to reference the intensity of the black lives matters protests but then go to such great lengths to avoid actually making a statement than black lives matter preferring to note all and every student in all capital letters is simply a loud and clear statement about where your board really stands with this issue many of our surrounding school districts are making the appropriate statements noting that their black students have received unequal in an equitable treatment for far too long they are saying it black lives matter we don't have to ask if white lives matter or if all students matter if we can truly acknowledge that white students

081have received historically better treatment the historically better treatment is the evidence that they matter and it is inappropriate to note at this time if you truly believe what you wrote in paragraphs 1 & 2 it was shouldn't be hard to see how our black students deserve a clear statement from our board black lives matter if it's not possible to make this statement I truly doubt the sincerity of pages paragraphs 1 & 2 our next statement is from Carolyn Dubiel of four five five zero diplomat drive and Stowe as a stove parent and resident in the district I was dismayed to see the verbiage all student populations in our school district referred to in the draft version of the inclusion statement which is up for a vote well I'm happy to see that the district is

082working on this plan the verbiage does not Center black lives and black students the be in black should also be capitalized I urge the board to listen to and honor the black voices in our community our next statement is from Carrie sue hedonic at 4 to 6 3 Meadow Lark trail and Stowe I was very encouraged to see the stove in row Falls Board of Education put forth a proposed statement on racism and equality after having reviewed the document I have a few concerns I was hopeful the content would be centered in unannounced discrimination and racism against the black community however the use and capitalization of the words all and every highlight the fact that this statement falls far short of that we will not take the proper steps to achieve equality in the district

083until you properly identify the root issue and define it in an honest way words have meanings if the intention is to denounce racism and discrimination use the right words black lives matter black students and staff matter the black community matters my daughter has been marching and protesting and fighting in the name of two of her best friends and their families because in her words I want them to know that I care if she at the age of nine can understand the concept that all lives cannot matter until black lives matter then so can a school board consisting of well-educated elected officials that have a duty to do what is right and justice our next statement is from Jennifer Morris 5:02 to pebble hearse drive and Stowe hello I am a mother to three students in

084the district at this time I am concerned that there hasn't been a statement made concerning a few things one we barely barely heard a little on the teacher who may or may not have been hacked it was barely addressed the statements that she made that she may have made were hateful and I hope a thorough investigation is occurring I'm concerned that no statement on black lives matter has been made public surrounding communities have made such statements and we need to make sure our students who are black are made to feel that their lives matter I have seen a statement that says all in all capital letters need to feel safe and included this is true as educators need to make sure all students feel safe and included but until each population is included in that

085not all fulfill this way how are these objectives going to be met will there be training on diversity well verse learning occur we know not everyone learns the same how will this be addressed training is currently occurring at Cuyahoga Falls and it is extensive and will include multiple levels that will build upon itself how will Stowe go about making sure different ways of learning is included and that language is inclusive at the same time is the curriculum going to reflect anti-racism and show true history and not the history that is currently taught and whitewashed at this time Kent City Schools has a banner for black lives matter as a symbol to the community that they are in this together are we planning on doing something similar as a community we should be standing behind beside

086one another and the lack of communication stating that black lives matter puts more of a division in place instead of the commute the ultimate goal of unity our next statement is from dawn Kosar 52 apprentice Street and Monroe falls in regards to your current resolution as a member of this community and having a child graduate from this district I'm glad you are addressing the issue of racism within our schools your statement seems very vague a blanket statement if you will to the issue of systemic racism and in light of this movement needs addressed publicly if you really want to show others in and out of this majority white district that you are trying to do better at making all feel welcome I believe you need to go deeper and have a clear plan of action

087you stated that you met with community leaders to learn from their share experiences and are starting a committee but could you include more substance in your statement could you speak on one or two things you were looking you're looking at starting to address this gives a better outlook to myself and others what you were attempting to tackle as issues also it might help to speak to black and minority parents and students past and present to let them lead the way on things they see or experienced to help achieve your goals we must do what we say or we lose credibility deservingly so moving forward I encourage you to facilitate and support all minority students families and more importantly educators in our district thank you our next statement is from Elizabeth light of one 601 Porter

088Avenue and Madison Wisconsin my original email to you on June 4th requested a public statement an action in response to the killing of George Floyd and countless other black Americans by police based on the few responses I received the June 8th Board Education meeting the June 8th statement and the statement being proposed this meeting I must amend my original request as cleared district leadership lacks a fundamental understanding of racism how racism operates in predominantly white schools and district leadership role in perpetuating and combating racism that being said the effort to combat racism in our schools must begin with you developing this understanding this work will look like engaging in black history education attending anti racism professional development sessions and committee to personal development as allies and standing in solidarity with black students families and community

089members if flayer ship does not intentionally commit to embodying anti racism in the cultivation of new school and community cultures your investment in equity will fall dangerously short it must be noted that as a predominantly white public institution Stowe Monroe Falls City School District is uniquely responsible to acquit white students that with anti-racist social and academic frameworks that will inform the difference they make in the world it is not enough to strive toward anti-discriminatory and inclusive school cultures white students must be engaged to actively challenge and dismantle racism your comments on divisive miss all student populations and every community member do nothing to protect black lives and livelihoods this language aligns district leadership with institutions taking at all lives matter stance that is not a path toward progress I will amend my original request to

090meet this district leadership where they are at I request the following be committed to action in a public statement 1 the district not only stands in solidarity with black students and community members but also commits to developing new school cultures that engage white students and challenging and disbanding dismantling racism to black history education and anti-racism professional development sessions will be mandatory for all administrators boarded board members teachers and staff 3 the district's Committee on inclusivity will will represent stakeholders including current students alumni and community members and will consider race gender identity sexual orientation age income and disability identity in diversifying this committee for public input will be actively prioritized in the district will update the public on action plans and organizations and individuals they are in contact with for anti racism racial equity consultant consultation

091as it as repeatedly stated I welcome questions and dialogue by email phone or zoom do not hesitate to reach out for support whether it be resources or feedback the support exists and this support is being offered I look forward to the continued conversation on the district's growth as an equitable anti-racist institution by way of transparent collaborative and intentional actions our next statement is from Christina Shaw 2 0 1 3 Hidden Lake Drive in Stowe first let me thank you for your service approaching the subject of racism is not easy especially when we talk about it when we start talking about it in our own communities as a Stowe graduate I truly love the city in our school system combating racism needs to start with education from the top down including our elected officials community leaders

092our first responders teachers and the like we need to set an example for our children from safety town through high school we need to educate the public and commit to examining the policies in place currently and how we might be more effective going forward people will ask is there racism in Stowe do we have a problem worth addressing the answer is yes to both it has been the elephant in the room for some time now unfortunately it took what happened to George Floyd to Minneapolis to bring this issue to the forefront racism is a problem to those children who are exposed to it and those who witness it I think we can all agree that we want to be a school system that welcomes all ethnicities races religions and sexual orientations we must start here

093and now let us be proactive to our neighboring communities and start leading by example black lives do matter especially in Stowe and Monroe Falls we witness this by the peaceful protest on June 10th to bring justice healing and freedom to black people our next statement is from and reassure our of 29 Vermont Avenue and Monroe Falls as a prominently white community is the responsibility of our institutions to undo racism it is not the responsibility of the minority to ensure everyone who utilizes community resources such as education health care police etc are treated fairly respectfully ensure safety and fully benefits from those resources is irresponsible of the school board to provide a blanket address regarding racial inequality the community demands how the school board intends to dismantle racism that currently exists within its school district our

094next statement is from Franklin Brown - 7 5 0 Hickory Street and Akron to start I would like to thank Nancy Brown for her munication outlook and transparency regarding the issues at hand her presence on the board is encouraging next I would like to address superintendent Bratton and board president Whitaker and this is less of a comment and more of a string of questions first how are the two of you recognizing your white privilege specifically your whiteness in your lives what has the unfolding of recent events made you realize about yourself and the way our society functions have you come to a workable understanding of what racism and white privilege are and how they affect everyone if not I suggest taking some time for reading introspection and coming to terms with that second how have

095you used your privilege or do you intend to or do you know how to third how will you ensure that privilege and anti-racism be topics addressed throughout your students education your teachers understand privilege for how we know that you care the board's intent to issue a statement came in my in many others opinions much too late is the issuing us of a statement regardless of timing and act of genuine concern solidarity and understanding or is this just to save face now the people have begun to complain are you are you concerned enough to craft an action-oriented statement and then follow through with it lastly is focusing on the inclusivity and anti-discrimination the best approach to incite change as I see it those are surface issues dealing with them may stymie certain manifestations of racism among

096other things but they do not address the underlying problems how do you plan to keep racism out of the school system educate the students teach students to be anti-racist require bring minority histories up to the same level of Americanist as white history require black literature to be taught I could go on and on with examples but the underlying theme is this change people's attitudes and you may begin to solve the problem of course the starts with you as leaders you must begin the process and if you have not begun already the time to start is now our next statement is from Heather Moss I am writing to you today because I have heard that those schools have taken a stand on black lives matter subject by stating on the black lives matter subject by stating

097that all lives matter well we are fully aware that all lives matter I'm sure that you were aware that black lives are the ones in danger at this point my son attends though high school and has always attended Stowe schools his entire life he will be an upcoming senior this year and while he is biracial his skin color is brown this whole situation has terrified him and made a major impact on the way he feels about law enforcement at this time I feel like the current school set I feel like the school system backing the all lives matter motto it's disrespectful to the situation we currently have going on in the world you should take this into consideration well I know that you do not have a plethora of black students you do have students

098I feel strongly that I feel strongly on the subject therefore I think it is incorrect of you to state that all lives matter as if you were overlooking the situation currently going on in the world I'm asking you to retract that statement and correct it for the sake of the world and the kids that are aware of what you voted on at the Board of Education and then make a public statement of where Stowe school stands I want my son to feel backed when he comes back to school this fall he is an up-and-coming senior he's going to a d1 college on a football scholarship and this is really having a major impact on his life it would be nice at the school system that he attended his entire life would understand that our next

099statement is from Mary Lisa of three five five three Charing Cross Drive in Stowe dear members of the school board i watch with hope as communities all across our nation acknowledge systemic racism and take action towards racial equality I encourage you to also take up this important action this important work and I offer the following suggestions declare your intentions to the community and hold yourselves accountable for their completion examine our schools and expose the racism inherent in the system provide opportunities for all employees to examine their own biases learn about racial injustice and develop strategies of student interaction and learning that promote racial equality teach children logic and reasoning so that they can interpret what they see in here revised curricula so that all the races are represented and portrayed in an unbiased way give

100our children the necessary tools to become the peacemakers of tomorrow our next to last statement is from Deanna Stevens my name is Deanna Stevens and I'm a 2004 graduate of the stone Monroe Falls High School I wanted to reach out to you to express my hope that the board not only shows its support for the black students within the district by acknowledging the ongoing black lives matter movement but also by addressing how it will work toward creating a safe inclusive environment for students of color will you incorporate black authors in history into your curricula will you commit to hiring teachers of color in all your buildings will you commit to bias training for all teachers and staff within the district how will you become how will you build a welcoming environment for all growing up

101as a first grader in Indian Trail there were only two black children in the school myself and my brother that same year was the first time I dealt with a racist joke a classmate told me in the middle of the lunch line so everyone could hear that black people had dark skin because we were dirty and didn't take baths now as a 34 year old woman I realized how dumb that sounds but as a seven-year-old girl that joke did exactly what it was supposed to do it made me feel as though there was something wrong with me as if I should be ashamed of my skin and who I was it was traumatic I will never forget telling my parents and my teachers about the comment just about learning about Martin Luther King just after

102learning about Martin Luther King jr. no less it was at that moment I stopped just being a girl at school but the black girl at school that moment I knew that no matter how well I did in class or how well I played with others at recess I would always be different my journey as a black girl continued at Kimpton a classmate told me of another student who had called me a black expletive when I was asked about the identity of the person who said it the classmate refused to tell me at the high school I was confused with the only other black female who was in my class at a time in a class of more than 500 students I'm fortunate that I was able to receive an excellent education and lucky enough to

103take the foundation to earn my bachelor's and master's degrees but I accomplished my goal despite the challenges I faced within the district I've made lifelong friends and have been proud of the crop of the continued success of district but when deciding where to live as an adult my husband and I crossed though off the list because we didn't want our children go through the same struggles I did growing up because I still do care about the district I grew up in I'm here to share my stories that you can understand what it's like to be able person within the district I know how much the district's dating black lives matter would have meant to me if I ever still in school I would feel like I was less alone that I was supported and that

104my existence not only mattered but was also valued and that message and most importantly a course of action behind that message is vital not only for your students of color but also to the community in general please know you will be sending a statement whether you announce your support or not you will be letting your students of color know and their allies know where you stand in this important moment of history please don't let silence speak for this district our last statement is from Carter Pierce three one three four Peterborough Drive in Stowe I have recently heard that the Stowe Monroe Falls School Board has decided to release a statement in which it does not address black lives matter although saying all lives matter is true and you may hold that belief but what you

105were saying is hypocritical and ignorant by saying all lives matter you are not addressing the problem at hand the problem is this black people have a been a black people have been oppressed for over 400 years and although there is some progress it has not been enough by saying that all lives matter you are not fixing the problem of institutionalized racism and the brutality the black people have faced by not addressing the problems that black people have faced you actually do not believe that all lives matter and thus make your argument invalid by not addressing the black lives matter in your statement you are failing the black student population at Stowe Monroe Falls High School we were failing the students that you should you are supposed to be representing in the school board with failure

106brings the possibility of learning something from that failure currently at Stowe Monroe Falls High School after government there is no requirement for social studies classes I would like you to consider requiring an African American Studies course history taught to many students especially from my experience is whitewashed yes there is a chapter going over the civil rights movement and slavery but that is not enough in fact it is barely touching the surface with this class this you should delve more deeply into the history of african-americans starting with slavery and going into now this class had exposed the races atrocities committed in America but also shed more light on african-american leaders such as Malcolm X Muhammad Ali James Baldwin and Martin Luther King jr. just a couple of samples understand that understand that what that class will

107entail might be hard for students but it is necessary because it is American history it is just how school children in Germany have to learn about the Holocaust if students in Germany can learn about the horrible atrocities committed by the Nazis against Jews then students in America need to learn the atrocities are committed and still commits to our black population one of the best ways to stop lasting racism in our country is to teach students about it so we can have meaningful discussions about the way we treat black people in America those are the statements that we have received I apologize for the grading nature of my voice and the increased mistakes throughout the meeting nothing else on our special meeting agenda do I have a motion to adjourn so moved thank you all right

108thank you mr. Emery still with us mister and for the record mr. Gummer E and mr. Bratton have been with us the entire time they've just not been on camera so with that mr. Gummer either roll call please uh Brown you're muted Ms Brown i right hi johnson Bowers hi video all right Whitaker hi you are adjourned thank you