DIVERSITY COMMITTEE MINUTES   FEB. 11th , 2002

Present: Jeff Clark, Mia Parker, Irene Haddow, Priscilla Jourden, Lynda
Joko, Maria Brazil, Julia Burg, Carita Polin

Julia reported that The Secret Garden Bookstore would match the price at the
Univ. Bookstore for the purchase of our book club reading choice: "Why Are
All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?"  She will purchase 50
copies and use Jeff's fund.

She also mentioned that Secret Garden will make extra copies available the
night of the Parent's Night  for personal purchase. The idea of a Diversity
Book Fair was suggested and the idea of  including it as part of the reading
club evening might entice others to attend.

Julia also reported that the grant for the Un-doing Racism Workshop was not
received. The desire for some sort of  workshop that both staff and parents
could participate in is still appealing and there was discussion about how
that might still be accomplished. Julia mentioned that Fran Davidson of the
C.R.A.B. Project (culturally relevant anti-bias leadership project) was open
to providing us with assistance if we could articulate a specific request.
Lynda Joko said she knew Barb Yasui (I'm not sure of the spelling) who also
worked with Fran. Lynda offered to talk with Barb and help us articulate our
needs. The idea of a presentation/workshop that might happen as part of the
staff's professional development days, in preparation for the new school
year in Aug., was discussed. The possibility that perhaps the
presentation/workshop could be held in the afternoon with a segment after
5PM  that working parents & guardians could plug into was suggested.
The idea of how to promote the book club was discussed. How to make sure
that people aren't put off by the title and think "I don't need to read
about Black kids, that doesn't have anything to do with me."  The concept of
a small review "Why I loved this book" kind of blurb to be added to each
bulletin that goes out before the 21st of March meeting. That would leave 4
Mondays needed. 2/24 Mia Parker & Julia Berg 3/3 Priscilla Jourden, 3/10
Carita & Linda Joko, 3/17 Maria & Irene. Also a flyer to remind parents,
guardians and staff about the parent meeting and book club event will be
attached to the Mon. bulletin before the event.

We agreed that the committee members would stand up and introduce themselves
at the start of the parent meeting, so that other parents can know people in
which classrooms are members. We agreed to meet at school @ 6:30 PM on the
21st to help set up. Child-care is arranged by Nancy Gruber as for all
parent meetings. We will have a sign-up sheet for parents who want to
participate in the reading club. Irene will call people to ask them to bring
snacks. Each of us will bring something ranging from cookies to nutritious.
Jeff will put on the coffee urn. Eating will be confined to the staff
kitchen area and not in the library.

There was a suggestion for meeting together as a group once in the summer as
a chance to visit and get to know one another better. Date to be set later.

NEXT  MEETING AGENDA:
? Diversity Book Fair
? Book club date in May
? Report on Professional Development Day in Aug.
? Evie Livingstone will report on the district's Disproportionality Comm.
? Set date for summer get-together