Ravenna will study curriculum, hiring after diversity task force submits report

The Ravenna School District will be looking into its curriculum, hiring and professional development after spending more than a year looking into issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.

A community report from the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force was presented to the public last week at the United Church of Jesus Christ in Ravenna. A shortened version of the report was presented to the district's Board of Education Monday.

More:Ravenna group works for equity, inclusion

The group came together in 2020, after Ravenna parents Wesley Ransom and LaTesha Dukes organized a town hall meeting in 2020, raising concerns about the district's response to the Black Lives Matter movement. 

District Superintendent Laura Hebert said the task force's goal is to make the schools more diverse, equitable and inclusive. The group had sub-committees on curriculum, hiring and retention and professional development.

The curriculum committee, she said, recommends a schedule for curriculum review and evaluation for all content areas and all grade levels, which also would extend to the libraries in each school building. The placement of students in acceleration programs would be viewed "through a DEI lens." The committee also hopes to bring back small groups at the middle and high school that would "provide a safe environment for students to share personal stories to build their confidence.'

The hiring and retention subcommittee, she said, recommends recruiting "a diverse and highly qualified staff, and ensuring that members of the interviewing panel have taken part in bias training before participating in an interview. The district also would analyze and, if necessary, revise hiring practice to ensure alignment with the task force's goals.

The professional development committee would take a look at discipline data and develop a "proactive toolkit" and develop alternative discipline measures that would be "restorative in nature." The group also recommends reviewing student code of conduct and dress code "through the DEI lens" and work to reduce the amount of instruction time a student loses because of discipline. 

Board of Education member Mike Tontimonia praised the report, saying it would guide the district into a more equitable culture.

Dukes and parent Zatraey Longmire said they will continue to speak up and hold the board accountable. Dukes said she found it "upsetting" to learn that board members were unaware of incidents taking place in the school, and Longmire criticized board members for not responding to an email she had sent more than two weeks ago.

A  school spokesperson said that the school's administrators were notified and answered her question

Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.