Diversity Task Force Minutes
Thursday, Sept. 6
4:30 p.m.
Board Conference Room
Purpose
The Frisco ISD Diversity Task Force will focus on maintaining an educational environment that is committed to high expectations for all - staff, students and community - through the following tenets:
- Promoting equity
- embracing diversity and differences
- encouraging active participation on the part of families and community
Members
Cultural Awareness CommitteeRecruiting and Retention Committee Equity and Excellence Committee
Shana McKay WorthamDr. Linda BassDr. Debra Nelson
Gigi Shamsey-Raye*Mary DowdJina Eksaengsri
Carole Greisdorf*Sylvia PalaciosMia Bennett
Lindsey Nadelman*Tanya HallLisa Vernon
Tanya HeardShannon WilliamsDione Tippawang*
Blanca OlivasLisa NataliTom Palacios
Ann Hicks Wynde RobinsonAngela Landers
Sandra TrevinoJimmy BowserPhyllis Jenkins
Eva ColemanGloria SaldivarDr. Rick Reedy
Elizabeth VelaLucy CantuCharese (Lanina) Duffey
Jaqueline Kennedy
Community Members*
The Diversity Task Force met on Thursday, September 6. This year, the co-chairs for the task force are Sylvia Palacios, Mia Bennett and Jimmy Bowser. The meeting began with Mrs. Palacios leading an exercise called Circle of Connections, with the first person standing up and telling a little bit about themselves and then as another person made a connection with something they said, they came and stood beside them and began sharing things about themselves. As the last person made a connection, they also had to then complete the circle by making a connection to the first person who began the exercise. It was a great way to learn more about each other and to demonstrate how we are each different, but share many similarities.
In beginning the new year, Mrs. Bennett asked the task force members to reaffirm their commitment to work together to help our district in its goal to embrace, value, accept and celebrate our diversity so that our lives will be more enriched. As our district focuses on student achievement by knowing the name and the need of our students, this personal piece ties in very well with a student’s overall well-being. She then had each of the subcommittees to meet in order to name co-leads for their group and to set goals for the year and to determine a presentation topic they will be working on for 2007-2008.
The meeting ended with Mr. Bowser giving a presentation on the new policy regarding student expression of religious viewpoints. FISD has adopted a policy FNA (local). Attached is the PowerPoint.
The upcoming meetings and lead topics are November 1 (recruiting and retention), March 6 (awareness) and May 1 (equity and excellence).
