DECATUR — Work is progressing toward implementation of a racial equity policy for the Decatur School District that will eventually cover everything from changes in curriculum to hiring practices to recruitment of staff.
Among the changes being considered are making African-American history, now an elective course, a required course; changing graduation requirements so that high school students would take a course either in inequality and social change or dual-credit African-American history; designing community service projects that could replace some of the service-learning hours now required; expanding the world history course to make it less western-focused; and requiring an introductory African-American history course in middle school.
The development of policy, which the Decatur Board of Education approved in August, is being undertaken by committees that include members of the board and district staff.
The curriculum committee, which includes several teachers at different grade levels, set out to examine the existing curriculum and determine how to make subjects multicultural and inclusive, said Ron Lybarger, an English teacher at Eisenhower High School.
“We are in need of equity as it pertains to people of color,” Lybarger said. “In some cases, entire curriculums might need to be revisited and modified to be more multicultural and reflective of the students we serve. In other cases, small minor adjustments, such as companion texts or multi-modal opportunities will create equity and broaden our students' comfort zones when it comes to issues of race.”
Megan Flanigan, a social studies teacher, said that means using materials that are primary sources, written by the people rather than about them by someone else: books and articles in the voices of those who are underrepresented.
Decatur schools' racial makeup is 54% African-American, 35.8% white, and the remainder a mix of other races and students who are two or more races.
“Ultimately, it is our recommendation that our (professional learning community) work ongoing in this district should be to evaluate our curriculum,” Lybarger said.
With the understanding that the COVID-19 pandemic could force changes to those plans, the goal is to have content-specific rubrics prepared by January, with final revisions in May.
“One of my biggest things was, I wanted this to be board-driven,” Beth Creighton, a member of the school board, said of the process. “So I spoke to the board and asked them which sections of the resolution spoke to them and where they thought they could be most helpful.”
The board members worked with the committees, and the plan contains 13 sections.
“In addition to just finding that this work is really meaningful and can create lasting change for the district, I was excited to have direct interaction with the staff,” said board President Beth Nolan. “When (Assistant Superintendent Jeff) Dase and I first met, we had ideas, but they were so much more meaningful coming from educators on the front lines.”
Social/emotional learning should also focus on making changes, specifically in social studies classes, Flanigan said. Questions while considering materials should include: Does the curriculum build students' and educators' awareness of their implicit biases, and does it focus on inclusiveness and acceptance of all students and families?
Other pieces of the overall plan: the district calendar should include important cultural observances for populations in the community not now included, such as changing the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day and adding Juneteenth as a holiday; expanding materials in district libraries to include indigenous people's music and history; examine the art and imagery in classrooms and district buildings to remove anything deemed offensive or insensitive; training for district employees in diversity, equity and inclusion; aggressively recruit and develop teachers and staff to reflect the community.
The Decatur plan was modeled on the plan used in Champaign and in Akron, Ohio, schools, which are on those districts' websites (champaignschools.org and akronschools.com). Most of the components in the plans are similar, with a focus on training employees, changing curriculum, checking on progress every six months and making changes as needed. Both school boards adopted their resolutions in June. The Akron plan was developed by board member N.J. Akbar.
"Professionally and academically, I am an educational equity scholar," Akbar said. "We were already beginning some of this work with the board, however, the dual crisis this country was facing this late spring (and) early summer heightened the need for more direct action against racism.
"As the pandemic continued to worsen, we were noticing many inequities becoming more visible. It is not that they weren't there, it is the fact that the pandemic exacerbated them to levels undeniably. The board was talking about (the subject) more often and so was our community. This led to the decision to write a resolution to declare our district not only acknowledges the existence of racism as a crisis but intends to take direct more immediate action."
Akbar said the board has requested information and action steps recommendations from district employees, while Akbar is leading the Legal Contracts and Board Policy Committee.
"Department heads across our district will be identifying unique and specific actions related to Dr. Akbar’s resolution,” said communications director Carla Chapman. “We are right now coordinating efforts around plans and strategies.”
Decatur's plans also include quarterly reports on complaints received regarding racial bias with the status of the resolution of each, and a thorough review of the discipline and safety protocols with an emphasis on restorative justice practices.
Decatur's full plan is on the district website, dps61.org in the Aug. 4 board packet.
10 times we were proud of Decatur schools
When Eisenhower and MacArthur students got great experience through internships.
John Reidy
The Decatur School District internship program debuted in 2015, with the idea for students to do real work and explore career areas. This year, 40 businesses offered to host interns. Students who apply for an internship choose where they'd like to work, and of the 40, 25 were chosen by the 46 students in the program.
When Holy Family students shaved their heads in solidarity.
Herald & Review File Photo
When fifth grader Adam Carter was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma and began chemotherapy, he decided to shave his head when his hair began falling out. He wasn't alone: One by one, a number of his friends followed suit.
When the ducks at Brush College School got some special attention.
Herald & Review File Photo
In 2007, two mother ducks were raising their flock of 24, and Principal Joe Smith took care of them. Smith arrived at school as early as 5 a.m. to put out food, clean up droppings and refill the two wading pools he bought for the ducks.
When a Durfee Magnet School teacher thought outside of the box for seating.
Herald & Review File Photo
Durfee Magnet School teacher Morgan Rufty received a grant to buy exercise balls for every child in her classroom to use instead of chairs. The balls delighted the kids, and research suggests that sitting on them could improve retention and concentration.
When Christmas came early for every child at French Academy.
Herald & Review File Photo
In December 2014, Principal Julie Fane organized her Facebook friends, Heartland Community Church and others to buy Christmas presents for all 294 students at the school. The kids didn't even know they'd provided wish lists through an innocent writing assignment: If you had $20, what would you spend it on?
When student volunteers pitched in to clean up neighborhoods.
Herald & Review File Photo
MacArthur, Eisenhower and St. Teresa high schools fanned out into neighborhoods to pick up trash as part of a 2016 cooperative event between Beautify Decatur and the city of Decatur. "I just feel like it's a way to get students involved who don't usually do stuff like this and get them out in the community, and it's a chance to clean up Decatur," said MacArthur High School junior Devin Fields.
When MacArthur students comforted children at Dove's domestic violence shelter.
Unsplash Photo
Students in the Jobs for America's Graduates program at MacArthur High School wanted to provide some comfort to those children at the Dove Inc. domestic violence shelter. They made soft fleece blankets and yarn octopus toys, and bought toy cars and packs of playing cards.
When St. Teresa physics students learned from Decatur police.
Jim Bowling
Students in Kimber Wilderman's physics class learned about accident reconstruction from Decatur police officers and Macon County prosecutors. They took measurements of vehicles and examined the damage, with guidance from the officers, to learn how those measurements help police determine speed and other factors after an accident.
When French Academy students helped their classmate play violin.
Jim Bowling
Takila Carr wanted to play the violin, but she couldn't grip with the thumb on her right hand, and her fingers wouldn't curl around the bow to brace it and control it. So her fourth-grade classmates at French Academy in Decatur decided to make a class project out of finding a way to help Takila play the violin.
When Dennis School students dreamed up ways to help a reptile friend.
Jim Bowling
Dennis School second-grade teacher Jim Dawson challenged students to design wheelchairs for Lt. Dan the turtle, who had to have two legs amputated. The children researched reptiles and their needs, studied human wheelchairs then each group made a prototype for Dan to try out.
These are just a few of the outstanding moments from Decatur public and private schools. For more great education stories, follow reporter Valerie Wells on Twitter at @modgirlreporter.
When Eisenhower and MacArthur students got great experience through internships.
John Reidy
The Decatur School District internship program debuted in 2015, with the idea for students to do real work and explore career areas. This year, 40 businesses offered to host interns. Students who apply for an internship choose where they'd like to work, and of the 40, 25 were chosen by the 46 students in the program.
When Holy Family students shaved their heads in solidarity.
Herald & Review File Photo
When fifth grader Adam Carter was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma and began chemotherapy, he decided to shave his head when his hair began falling out. He wasn't alone: One by one, a number of his friends followed suit.
When the ducks at Brush College School got some special attention.
Herald & Review File Photo
In 2007, two mother ducks were raising their flock of 24, and Principal Joe Smith took care of them. Smith arrived at school as early as 5 a.m. to put out food, clean up droppings and refill the two wading pools he bought for the ducks.
When a Durfee Magnet School teacher thought outside of the box for seating.
Herald & Review File Photo
Durfee Magnet School teacher Morgan Rufty received a grant to buy exercise balls for every child in her classroom to use instead of chairs. The balls delighted the kids, and research suggests that sitting on them could improve retention and concentration.
When Christmas came early for every child at French Academy.
Herald & Review File Photo
In December 2014, Principal Julie Fane organized her Facebook friends, Heartland Community Church and others to buy Christmas presents for all 294 students at the school. The kids didn't even know they'd provided wish lists through an innocent writing assignment: If you had $20, what would you spend it on?
When student volunteers pitched in to clean up neighborhoods.
Herald & Review File Photo
MacArthur, Eisenhower and St. Teresa high schools fanned out into neighborhoods to pick up trash as part of a 2016 cooperative event between Beautify Decatur and the city of Decatur. "I just feel like it's a way to get students involved who don't usually do stuff like this and get them out in the community, and it's a chance to clean up Decatur," said MacArthur High School junior Devin Fields.
When MacArthur students comforted children at Dove's domestic violence shelter.
Unsplash Photo
Students in the Jobs for America's Graduates program at MacArthur High School wanted to provide some comfort to those children at the Dove Inc. domestic violence shelter. They made soft fleece blankets and yarn octopus toys, and bought toy cars and packs of playing cards.
When St. Teresa physics students learned from Decatur police.
Jim Bowling
Students in Kimber Wilderman's physics class learned about accident reconstruction from Decatur police officers and Macon County prosecutors. They took measurements of vehicles and examined the damage, with guidance from the officers, to learn how those measurements help police determine speed and other factors after an accident.
When French Academy students helped their classmate play violin.
Jim Bowling
Takila Carr wanted to play the violin, but she couldn't grip with the thumb on her right hand, and her fingers wouldn't curl around the bow to brace it and control it. So her fourth-grade classmates at French Academy in Decatur decided to make a class project out of finding a way to help Takila play the violin.
When Dennis School students dreamed up ways to help a reptile friend.
Jim Bowling
Dennis School second-grade teacher Jim Dawson challenged students to design wheelchairs for Lt. Dan the turtle, who had to have two legs amputated. The children researched reptiles and their needs, studied human wheelchairs then each group made a prototype for Dan to try out.
Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter
Megan Flanigan, literacy specialist for Decatur Public Schools, poses with some of the books under consideration for inclusion in the curriculum as a result of the Resolution on Racism.