Diversity Committee Minutes

September 26, 2007

In attendance:

Irene Haddow Parent, Chair

Lance Adams Parent

Allie Fee Parent

Joney Springberg Parent

Aundi Russell Parent

Mary-Pat Soukup Parent

Jane Enterline Parent, Scribe

Diversity Committee Structure

We opened the meeting with a discussion of the committee structure:

• Irene will chair this year and attend FoSBE and SBB meetings. Mary-Pat will work with Irene and step into that role next year. Thank you Mary-Pat!
• Projects and activities are generated and led by individuals, with committee support.
• Jane will continue as secretary for one more year.

The Diversity Committee is an important forum/resource for families at our school who are dealing with/struggling with issues of inclusion/exclusion at our school. Many families come to our committee each year for support and advice. We should advertise this aspect of the committee.

Irene will look into getting a Diversity Committee bulletin board and designing an informational poster/flyer.

Library Books

Aundi will work with Linda to track the books that were purchased last year on behalf of the Diversity Committee and to generate a wish list for this year.

Last year we focused on Korean/Korean-American books. Aundi will help us determine how many of these have been purchased and which ones we want to keep on our wish list.

This year we will focus on books covering subjects on multi-racial families and families with adopted children.

Movie Nights

Allie suggested we show international family movies, so we are planning a series of family movie nights with movies from different countries. Some movies may be appropriate for all ages, some may be targeted for middle schoolers and adults only. So far we are considering:

• “Going to School in India” - Aundi is the lead on this movie.
• “The Way Home” – Allie is the lead on this movie.
• We hope to show an additional movie or two. Please bring your ideas to our next meeting.

We will provide pizza, popcorn and drinks. We have enough money for the first movie night. We will put out an optional donation bucket each time to buy food for the next movie night.

Parent Education Night on Adoption

Mary-Pat and Aundi are the leads on this project.

They will contact possible panelists – teens/young adults who are adopted – to speak with parents and staff at our school. They will also consider a forum for students at our school to speak with the panelists.

Aundi knows a woman who has written a book about adoption. Perhaps she will be able to lead the evening.

Irene will check in with Anthony. He has expressed interest in facilitating a parent education evening on diversity of families.

We did not set a date.

Generation Mix Luncheon

Kelly and Mary-Pat are moving forward with this project.

They are looking for a facilitator and will report to us in October.

Parent Education on the integration of students with Aspergers

Kelly has met with Nancy Gerber.

Irene has spoken with three parents with children in the Aspergers inclusion program.

We need to balance parent education with the sensitive nature of the inclusion program. How do we educate our community without shedding unwanted attention onto the program?

Kelly will continue to work with Nancy Gerber.

Mini Grants – Due Oct 31^st

We have $1000 allocated from FoSBE for the Generation Mix facilitator. Mary-Pat and Kelly will get a quote on the actual projected cost.

We estimate needing $250 per evening event that we organize.

Irene will check that we have $750 set aside, between FoSBE and the MS PTA. If that’s not the case, she will ask for the difference in a mini-grant.

We will wait until after the November book fair to determine if we will apply for funds for library resources.