Diversity Committee Meeting Minutes

March 14, 2007

In attendance:

Irene Haddow Parent, Chair

Kelly Delaney Parent, substitute scribe

Mary-Pat Soukop Parent

Joney Springberg Parent

Approval of minutes

The approval of February minutes was tabled until the April 18^th meeting.

Follow up on Movie Night

Movie night was successful and moderately attended. About 20 people attended. The group discussion after the film was honest. Individuals sought to challenge themselves about their own perceptions of race, and shared openly their experiences, thoughts and feelings on the subject of race in their own lives and in our community.

The film Chasing Daybreak and film guide are now cataloged into the Parent and Professional section of the school library.

The mentorship/lunch program for kids of color and their friends, a prospective group at SB based on the film Chasing Daybreak, is still in the works.

Kids of Color Friendship Group

Kids of color at SB express their need to connect with other kids of color to their parents, who in turn have brought this information to DC meetings. Kids of color also report being left out of play circles because they are “not white,” as well as being questioned about the shape of their eyes and the kinds of ethnic food they’ve brought for lunch.

In developing the idea for a Kids of Color Friendship group, we dialogued about the logistics of creating a place and time for kids of color and their allies/friends to gather together to eat lunch and connect with one another to have the opportunity to discuss openly their experiences with race issues.

Since lunches are divided up we might have to have three lunch groups. But that is unfortunate since we would really like to promote cross-connections among our kids of color and their friends.

One suggestion was that on the days of Kids of Color Friendship Group, students who wish to participate in the group could all meet for lunch at a designated time with a designated facilitator. The idea for the group could be introduced to the kids either in classrooms or in the lunchroom, and kids could sign-up if they wish. Then kids would obtain a lunch pass if the time differed from their regular lunch group.

The issue that kids may not want to be singled out as “different” is a recurring concern within this dialogue. One response is that our kids do notice and comment on racial differences among themselves and to each another. This friendship group will provide a positive and safe place for kids of color and their friends to express their ideas and feelings about race difference and sameness.

Maybe we should call the group “Kids of All Colors” Friendship group. To make this clear: all kids would be welcome to attend this lunch group, which will focus on building positive connections among kids of color at Salmon Bay.

We all concurred that we wish Anthony Malaki would facilitate this group.

Mary Pat said she would be the contact person for this project.

Diversity Committee Organization—Continued discussion from February meeting

To be combined with items under this heading in February’s minutes, for further assessment, and to be further discussed at the DC retreat:

• We will operate on a project by project basis
• We have project leads and volunteers who will commit to supporting the lead of any given project
• We have two positions: Chair and Scribe
• Chair will be the main contact person
• Scribe will be email/agenda contact person
• Anyone filling the Chair position will need to have attended DC meetings for one year; have led at least 2 school wide DC events, and have served as support for two other DC events.
• At each year’s Diversity Retreat attendees will create a possible outline of events for the school year. However, nothing will be decided on until the first meeting of the year, back at school; and throughout the year, anyone in the SB community is welcome to propose topics for dialogue, and/or ideas for projects they would lead on issues of race, class, sexual orientation, ability status, or other issue of diversity.

Conflict Resolution

Joney attended the DC meeting to discuss her concerns about how conflicts among kids at school get resolved. After an elementary school-wide playground conflict over football, which was ultimately resolved by banning football, Joney was left with these questions about conflict resolution:

· What are the immediate steps taken to address or correct a conflict when it is reported by the kids?

· What are the next administrative steps?

· Does it go to Anthony, then to Jodee?

· Are the playground monitors being supported by administration?

The dialogue that opened on this subject revolved around the importance of a good conflict resolution procedure in the community. We discussed past successes with Pricilla’s “Peer Mediation” method and wonder who could help reinstitute this. Because this method engages children within the conflict to come to shared solutions about shared problems, the kids are accountable to each other and to the outcome of the situation. It creates and builds responsibility for themselves, each other, and their community. It is an inherently respectful method for solving problems, but it takes skilled staff and faculty who can teach it. We also talked about the importance of those in authority being direct, engaged, and an active listener to help kids resolve conflicts effectively and respectfully.

We agreed that in general, if conflict is handled in a “top-down” manner, it leaves the children in the position of blaming one another for the group’s loss. This, framed in the context of diversity, promotes a general intolerance of others’ perspectives, and promotes tolerance for excluding or ostracizing behavior. It breaks down community.

Therefore, this report is an open request for a more proactive approach to conflict resolution at Salmon Bay, which:

· involves facilitating kids solving their problems

· informs and involves parents in the “rules of play” so they can reinforce them at school and at home

· informs and involves parents about the conflict resolution programs being taught at school

· offers parent/family education on the subject of conflict resolution and bullying

Future Meeting Dates: Wednesdays at 7:00 in the Library:

· April 18 – Cancelled in respect for the Day of Silence

· May 9