HF-FMCSD works to be more aware of student differences
‘Diversity’ is understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.
“We have long realized that the community has changed, and we recognize that there is a need for equity, opportunity and access for our children.”
With that, Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Sheboy took a few minutes recently to introduce and explain the district’s new Diversity Committee.
He said creating the committee was part of his goals as superintendent; it’s new this year and is made up of faculty, staff, parents, and, soon, students. It’s being chaired by three teachers, Nicole Glennon from O’Neill High School and Highland Falls Intermediate School teachers Wilmina Sainbert and Carielle Erskine.
“We recognize that diversity is good for students, but we realize it’s good for adults, too,” Sheboy said.
There are currently four goals of the committee, including developing a plan in which the recruitment and hiring of staff and faculty reflects the student body; offering culturally responsive practices in everything that is done; re-examining the district’s Family & Community Engagement policy (to try to determine, Sheboy said, why some people consistently don’t interact with the district at public events, for instance, why some parents never attend conferences); and “removing barriers so that all students who want to can access programs.” That, he said, may mean fee reductions for some special events, or the creation of new clubs to reflect things certain groups of students are interested in.
Sheboy calls it a committee he’d like to see full of “short term wins.” Already the district has changed some of its recruitment strategies, reaching out to colleges for graduates with diverse backgrounds themselves.
While the student diversity rate in the district has increased from 40-45 percent since 2015, Sheboy said, the faculty diversity rate has increased from five to 12 percent in the same time frame.
The Diversity Committee meets twice a month, and already has about 40 ‘members,’ although due to scheduling, they realize not everyone will make every meeting. The committee chairs are mixing up the days of the week that it meets, as well as the school buildings in an effort to include more members. The three co-chairs have also incorporated some ‘events’ into the committee work — recently they gathered to pack the take-home food backpacks for students before a committee meeting.
