March 21, 2023
Dear Carmel Community,
I recently shared an update with you about the planned next steps for the district in safety, communication, and equity to better create a learning environment where all students feel safe and respected.
While there is much more work to be done, I am sharing an update on the work that has been happening since my last email.
District-Wide Updates
- The district has created a website section dedicated to providing updates on our work and detailed plans for enhancements in the areas of safety, communication and equity. A report of feedback provided at the two Safety and Wellness Community Forums is included on the webpage. All future updates will also be included on the webpage.
- The district will be implementing an Anonymous Alerts system when schools return from spring vacation in April. We have chosen a system and are currently working on the implementation tasks to get it ready for our district community to use. Specific information about the system will be sent by each building’s principal at the time of the system’s launch.
- The district is finalizing a list of volunteers for the new CCSD Communications Committee. Thank you to all those who volunteered to assist in the work. All individuals who volunteered will be contacted later this week regarding the committee. The committee is planning to host its first meeting on Thursday, March 30. The committee's task will be to create a system for communicating instances of concern and safety to the community.
- The district is working with Matthew Lattimer, Lead Conciliation Specialist, U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service, to host a Dialogue on Race program. This program is four sessions and an interactive, facilitated process that opens lines of communication and fosters mutual understanding to help address racial conflict and decrease racial tensions. The program will be scheduled on dates at the end of April and May. The district will begin advertising for this event next week.
- Strategic planning surveys were administered to parents, students and staff by the district’s strategic planning partner, Syracuse University’s Office of Public Research and Development to provide opportunity for feedback and to help shape the district’s future.
- The District-Wide Safety Team is exploring safety training for this spring.
School Building Updates
In addition to the district-wide work outlined above, additional work is underway within each school building:
- All school buildings continue to provide counseling services for students with our pupil personnel staff.
- Building MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) meetings are focusing on student emotional concerns.
- George Fischer Middle School and Carmel High School administration have created student advisory teams and will be hosting town hall meetings regularly between now and the end of the school year to provide student voice regarding concerns.
- Middle school and high school administration attended a regional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) conference and are sharing the information learned with other administrators.
- The district will be implementing the Department of Justice Program - SPIRIT (Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together) Program this spring with our students at the middle school and high school.
- The high school equity team will be attending a conference on designing equitable learning environments.
- In the spring, high school and middle school faculty meetings will focus on the Speak up at School Protocol, which discusses how to respond to everyday prejudice, bias and stereotypes.
- The high school and middle school are establishing Equity Clubs for students.
- Elementary buildings will be creating a Grade 4 principal advisory team and will meet with that team regularly this spring.
- Elementary buildings continue to implement PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) student recognitions and Tier 2 check-in and connections with students.
- Elementary buildings are in the process of creating Equity Teams.
- Elementary buildings will provide professional learning opportunities to staff during grade-level meetings on multicultural learning activities and the four pillars of the NYSED (New York State Education Department) Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education Framework.
- Building staff will be participating in an additional Dignity for All Students (DASA) training during staff meetings at each building this spring. Staff members were provided with training at the beginning of the school year as part of our annual procedures, so this is additional training.
- Our professional development team is planning professional learning based on the Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education framework for an April Staff Development Day.
- Our district equity team is completing a survey of interest and will review all data from the strategic planning surveys from parents and students. Additionally, the Equity Team will create subcommittees to establish goals in the four pillars of the NYSED Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education Framework.
We are committed to the transformative and important work needed to bring change to our district and appreciate the community's willingness to partner with us and get involved. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts.
I will continue to provide updates and share the district’s progress in these areas and others. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office directly.
Sincerely,
Mary-Margaret Zehr
Superintendent of Schools