After over a year of research and work, CHCCS director of equity leadership Sheldon Lanier presented a draft of the district’s Equity Plan, designed to end racial inequity in schools, to the Board of Education Thursday night.
“We will be continuously updating this plan, as it should be a living, breathing document,” Lanier said. “I thought it was very important that any equity work, that there was actually a framework and a foundation in terms of the direction.”
The plan has four stated goals: to create an inclusive culture, to eliminate the achievement gap between students of color and their white peers, creating a fair punishment system and recruiting racially sensitive personnel.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools has long struggled with the issue of racial equality and last year received a report on how disciplinary actions disproportionately impact minority students.
Members of the community spoke before Lanier’s presentation and expressed their frustration with the plan.
“The updated equity plan just doesn’t seem comprehensive,” said Kenyana Clark. “Although 18 months have passed and my kids just can’t afford to continue to slip through the cracks.”
Some parents were upset that no dates were assigned in the plan as deadlines for future action.
Lanier said he would add deadlines as the plan became more concrete.
“I’m not going to rush my race and I don’t think my race is to be rushed,” Lanier said. “If we’re going to do something to target black and brown students, then I want to make sure that it is done correctly and it is rock solid and it is tight.”
He said he wanted to get more community involvement and that anyone with ideas who wanted to reach out to him should do so.
“I will tell you right now,” Lanier said. “The only S on my chest stands for Sheldon. It does not stand for Superman, I don’t know everything and there is point where you have to rely on those that may know more than you do.
After Lanier’s presentation, both board members and community members praised his effort, saying it was step in the right direction.
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