Fairfield City Schools Diversity Plan 2016 2018 1 P age
Table of Contents Letter of Support from Superintendent Page 3 Equity Work Flow Page 4 Diversity Mission and Vision Statements Page 5 Pillar/Goal I Page 6 Pillar/Goal II Page 7 Pillar/Goal III Page 8 Pillar/Goal IV Page 9 Conclusion Page 10 2 P age
Fairfield City Schools 4641 Bach Lane. Fairfield, Ohio. 45014 Phone (513) 829 6300. Fax (513) 829 0148 www.fairfieldcityschools.com Dear Community Member, Several years ago, the Fairfield Board of Education adopted the following belief statements to form the basis of our equity work in the Fairfield City Schools: We believe a strength of the Fairfield City School District is our expanding, culturally diverse population. We believe all children can learn and achieve to their full potential. In 2011, the Board adopted the district s first Diversity Plan. Its expiration at the end of the 2014 2015 school year resulted in a review of the plan, its goals and rationales. We want to continue our work to ensure these fundamental beliefs continue to be practiced in all of our buildings, classrooms and in our daily interactions in the city and township communities. The Fairfield City School district is fortunate to serve students and their families who represent a number of diverse backgrounds. We will continue to work to meet their educational and social development needs. In the years since this plan was adopted, we have experienced significant population growth in this area. Our programs and services must reflect the ever changing needs, and we must continue to promote a school community that embraces acceptance and denounces and takes action against prejudice and discrimination. We are committed to ensuring the pillars/goals of this updated plan are carried out. We realize that along the way, we may need to tweak this plan to better fit the needs of our students, staff and community. The daily world of education can at times, be unpredictable. We must be poised for these moments to ensure that this plan evolves into a model that will teach us all to live, learn, and work together in a vibrant and diverse world. Billy Smith Superintendent 3 P age
Diversity Plan Process Equity Leadership Team (ELT) Diversity related policy issues Clearinghouse for district wide diversity initiatives Annual progress report to Board of Education Community Diversity Alliance (CDA) Community engagement and parental involvement Forum for community based diversity conversations Building Diversity Alliances School building specific diversity programming Student and community engagement opportunities and activities Diversity Plan Process 2016 2018 Recruit, hire and retain teachers, administrators and staff of color Increase and improve cultural awareness of all teachers, administrators and staff Improve communication with community regarding diversity initiatives Develop student engagement and learning opportunities 4 P age
Diversity Mission Teaching our children, and ourselves, to live, learn, and work together in a vibrant and diverse world. Diversity Vision To be the premier public school district in Ohio, providing an excellent education to all students. We will have a staff that reflects the racial and cultural diversity of our community and our student body. We will build trusting relationships with all students and their families, establishing our school district as the recognized leader of equitable community engagement in Ohio. We will develop and support culturally competent, transformational leaders who exhibit cultural awareness, attitudes, knowledge, and skills. These leaders will create inspirational learning experiences that encourage and motivate all students and staff to achieve their highest levels of performance. The Importance of Diversity for Fairfield City Schools The Fairfield City School District prides itself on providing high quality teaching and instruction for all students. The diverse population of Fairfield, Fairfield Township and Butler County continues to increase and we work diligently to prepare all students for diverse collegiate and professional work environments. This plan is a revised version of what was originally approved by the Board of Education in 2011. We recognize that while strides have been made over the last five years, we still have much work to do. We have reconfigured some items to reflect our changing times. We will continue to work toward shaping the future diversity actions of the district, guided by four key components, or pillars/goals: Pillar/Goal I Recruit, hire, and retain teachers, administrators, and staff of color Pillar/Goal II Increase cultural awareness of all teachers, administrators, and staff Pillar/Goal III Increase outreach for diverse community engagement and parental involvement Pillar/Goal IV Develop student engagement and learning opportunities to increase participation of diverse students in all curricular and extracurricular activities The Fairfield City School District has the momentum to continue our work in these areas. We are committed to inspiring our school community to be accepting and willing to learn from individuals with differing backgrounds. 5 P age
Pillar/Goal I Recruit, hire, and retain teachers, administrators, and staff of color It is important to have and maintain a diverse pool of candidates for teaching, administrative and other positions within the district so that our workforce is reflective of student demographics. Our administrators and district leadership will have a resource from which to pull highly qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds for interviews and the hiring process. Our goal is to increase the diversity of staff across the district to be reflective of the diversity within our community. In our efforts to retain staff members of color, we will continue to engage in activities listed below to demonstrate that every teacher hired under this plan is valued. Strategies: We will develop new partnerships and maintain and strengthen current partnerships with culturally diverse institutions, including colleges, organizations and churches with a focus on conducting targeted recruiting and hiring initiatives for potential candidates that will diversify our staff. Members of the Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee (MRRC) will serve as liaisons to these identified institutions. The MRRC will gather, compile and share building level information regarding the demographics of new hires and of teachers leaving the district each school year. The committee will reflect on any patterns or trends which appear in the data and annually report them to the Equity Leadership Team. We will establish procedures for district wide diversity orientation for all building leaders and interview committees. This includes developing a consistent process for screening and interviewing job candidates that includes questions and scenarios relating to diversity and equity. We will develop processes for selecting diverse staff to serve on all committees. The MRRC will review existing exit surveys and make recommendations which could improve the quality of information we receive from staff members leaving our district. The MRRC will review completed exit surveys and report to the Equity Leadership Team any patterns or trends related to the equity work. We will establish and implement a process to provide orientation to all new administrators on the topic of diversity/equity. We will encourage diversity in the membership of all district level committees and all buildinglevel and district level hiring committees. The MRRC will organize at least two social networking events each year in an effort to build relationships and increase retention. The MRRC will continue to increase visibility and awareness of our work through charitable collection and/or volunteerism within the community at least once each year. 6 P age
Pillar/Goal II Increase cultural awareness of all students, teachers, administrators, and staff of the Fairfield City School District Strategies: The Fairfield City School District teachers, administrators, and staff will: Continue to search for and remove barriers for student groups, particularly students of diverse backgrounds, to ensure they have access to the most rigorous courses available. Receive professional development that empowers them to embrace the differences of others whether in thought, race, or learning style through collaborative processes which provide firsthand experiences. Utilize instructional materials aligned to Ohio s Learning Standards in order to provide all students, particularly those with diverse backgrounds, the academic foundation needed for a strong future, while understanding the cultural differences that may exist in the classroom. Build relationships through research based instructional practices such as the use of Marzano strategies, Formative Instructional Practices (FIP), and Kagan structures to create an environment of trust between students and staff as well as between students and their peers. Utilize student assessment information (MAP, SLOs, value added, vendor assessments, etc.) to gain a clear picture of students strengths and areas of need. Utilize instructional technology as a way to better engage students and close the achievement gap. Develop more course offerings for students in the areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) across all grade levels. We will specifically reach out to students with diverse backgrounds and encourage them to enroll in these classes while providing any support needed for success. Provide administrators with professional development to develop the skill set and emotional sensitivity to address, mediate, and work through challenging situations. We will establish and implement professional development opportunities for staff members of color. 7 P age
Pillar/Goal III Increase community engagement and parental involvement The Fairfield City School District will work to increase opportunities for parents and community members to be more involved in schools, and to join the work and activities of the school district. Strategies: Encourage community and parent participation in the quarterly District Community Diversity Alliance meetings Encourage diverse student participation in the quarterly Equity Leadership Team (ELT) meetings. Provide a resource list to all school administrators about various cultural and commemorative dates so they may acknowledge and celebrate these important cultural milestones. Engage in honest conversation with staff, parents and community members about concerns and issues that impact our diverse population. Continue to promote and encourage the use of our various print and electronic communication tools. The website, app and rapid calling system have a translation feature. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter social media feeds, as well as submissions to local news media, will continue to feature news and photos about all students to show the diversity within our schools. Share information about school and community resources to assist new families. Support and promote the annual cultural celebrations in the schools. Support the work of the Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee by reaching out to minority parents and community members who may be qualified for employment postings Provide opportunities for the community and parents to assist with districtwide charitable collections Survey families about their interests to find out how best they can become more involved in our schools. 8 P age
Pillar/Goal IV Develop student engagement and learning opportunities to increase participation of underrepresented students in all curricular and extracurricular activities Students who engage in curricular and extracurricular activities are more likely to display a positive attitude about school, increase academic achievement, and strengthen school pride. Strategies: Improve teacher to student relationships in order to foster student interest in curricular and extracurricular activities (i.e., Positive Behavior Supports Framework, Multi Tiered Systems of Support, etc.) Provide a variety of opportunities to develop culturally aware student leaders. Building leaders and staff will select participants for leadership opportunities that are visible to the entire student body and reflects the diversity make up of the building as a whole (i.e., student announcements, Student Council, student focus groups, extracurricular programs, etc.) Evaluate the current process used for screening students for advanced level classes (i.e., sliding scale using a combination of standardized tests, grades, and/or teacher recommendation). Provide opportunities for more students to access advanced level classes beginning at the elementary level, and continuing through high school (i.e., using a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) approach to teaching and learning that incorporates math and science in problem based activities). 9 P age
Conclusion We realize this is a work in progress. We will continue to make adjustments to fit the social and educational needs of all learners in the Fairfield City Schools. The goals of the Diversity Plan offer knowledge, skills and resources for teachers and staff. The framework for these goals is the result of many years of difficult discussions about racial equity, closing the achievement gap, and related topics that have prepared us to better serve students. We know that relationship building is the first step toward successful experiences. We also must continue to provide a range of opportunities so everyone can feel a connection with school life. We value the diversity of our schools and community and hold high expectations for acceptance, support and inclusion. 10 P age