Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board Diversity Committee

Thursday, November 10, 2016

5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

520 Fifth Avenue School District Administrative Center

Room 426

A G E N D A A. PRELIMINARIES

1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call / Introductions 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of September 8, 2016 & October 13, 2016 Minutes

B. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS C. REPORTS

1. September 2016 Meeting Minutes 2. October 2016 Meeting Minutes 3. BDC 2016 – 17 Working Goals 4. Resolution 2017-10 Honoring Alaska Native and American Indian Heritage Month 5. Resolution 2017-09 - AFN 50th Anniversary 2016

D. OLD BUSINESS 1. Identify BDC 2016-17 Goals

E. NEW BUSINESS

1. Welcome Anna Freeman! Anna will be representing the Regional Student Council 2. Cultural Liaison Discussion (Guests: Tanya Mosher (Ben Eielson JrSr) & Char Powers (Lathrop)) 3. Project Updates:

Storytelling (Michelle Goodwin / Jerry Stebbins)

Climate Surveys (Georgia Sandgren) 4. Set agenda items for next meeting: December 8, 2016

F. INFORMATION

1. Honoring Alaska Native and American Indian Heritage Month (November 2016)

2. AFN 50th Anniversary 2016 (3rd Week of October) – NEW RESOLUTION!

G. CLOSING COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS

H. ADJOURNMENT

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Board Diversity Committee

Regular Meeting

MEETING MINUTES

September 8, 2016

A. PRELIMINARIES 1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Doreen Oliver at 5:35 p.m. in Room 426 of the

FNSBSD Administrative Center at 520 Fifth Avenue.

2. Roll Call / Introductions Members present: Georgia Sandgren Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell Jo Ann Borges Michelle Goodwin Jerry Stebbins

Members absent: Sean Rice (Excused) Alex Amagashie Larnetia Skipps Brianne Gray (Excused)

Administrative support present: Doreen Oliver Britiany Paris

Guest: June Rogers (Fairbanks Diversity Council)

3. Approval of Agenda Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell made a motion to approve the agenda. Michelle Goodwin

seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

4. Approval of the Minutes Minutes of the May 12, 2016 meeting were reviewed. Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell made

a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Jo Ann Borges seconded the motion and

it carried unanimously.

B. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS None

C. REPORTS 1. BDC Vision Statement 2. Current BDC Brochure 3. BDC Brochure Options (Updates) 4. Resolutions Calendar 5. May 2016 Meeting Minutes

6. BDC 2015-16 Goals

D. OLD BUSINESS 1. Discussion on collaboration with the Fairbanks Diversity Council: June Rogers

attended the meeting to further discuss possible collaborations between the Fairbanks

Diversity Council ("FDC") and the school district's BDC. Although Ms. Rogers did not

have specific projects in mind, she indicated that she and possible other members of the

FDC were willing to collaborate. Ms. Rogers further expressed a need for the

community to work with the school district to move the message of diversity forward.

Everyone agreed this was an important message to undertake.

Michelle Goodwin suggested undertaking a "storytelling" project. Both organizations could collaborate on telling the district's and the community's story in a variety of ways through picture puzzles, poems, testimonials, etc. Since the depth of this project was potentially massive, everyone decided to narrow in on a particular storytelling project. Michelle Goodwin and Jerry Stebbins agreed to work together on facilitating a potential project involving students at Lathrop High School. Mr. Stebbins suggested utilizing technology to record students' diverse stories. Ms. Goodwin motioned that the BDC accept the undertaking of this project and Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

E. NEW BUSINESS 1. Election of Chair and Vice Chair for the 2016-17 School Year:

Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell nominated Michelle Goodwin for the position of BDC Chair. All voted in favor, none opposed. Jerry Stebbins nominated Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell for the position of BDC Vice Chair. All voted in favor, none opposed.

2. Adoption of Updated BDC Pamphlet Cover/Symbol: The BDC decided to adopt the 3 rd of three options presented to them for a new cover for the BDC Pamphlet. The motion for adoption was made by Georgia Sandgren, and seconded by Jerry Stebbins. The motion carried unanimously.

3. Adoption of 2016-17 Goals: The BDC members worked on creating a list of goals for this academic school year — however, the list was not yet completed. The members decided to finalize the list at the October 13, 2016 meeting.

F. INFORMATION 1. The next committee meeting will be October 13, 2016 from 5:30 — 7:00 in room 426.

G. CLOSING COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS

H. ADJOURNMENT Georgia Sandgren made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:03 p.m.

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Board Diversity Committee

Regular Meeting

MEETING MINUTES

October 13, 2016

A. PRELIMINARIES 1. Call to Order

Michelle Goodwin called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m. in Room 426 of the FNSBSD Administrative Center at 520 Fifth Avenue.

2. Roll Call / Introductions Members present: Georgia Sandgren Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell Jo Ann Borges Michelle Goodwin Larnetia Skipps

Members absent: Sean Rice (Excused) Alex Amagashie (Excused) Brianne Gray (Excused) Jerry Stebbins (Excused) Anna Freeman (Excused)

Administrative support present: Doreen Oliver Britiany Paris

Guest: Tanya Mosher (Ben Eielson Cultural Liaison)

3. Approval of Agenda The agenda was not approved, as the committee did not meet a quorum.

4. Approval of the Minutes The minutes were not approved, as the committee did not meet a quorum.

B. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Jo Ann Borges requested a review of the BDC bylaws concerning member absences.

After reading the bylaws, the committee members present discussed their frustration

with the lack of meeting attendance from the committee as a whole.

C. REPORTS 1. September 2016 Meeting Minutes 2. BDC 2016 — 17 Working Goals 3. Hispanic Heritage Month Resolution 4. International Friendship Day Flyer 5. 6th Annual Literacy Challenge Flyer 6. Proposed resolution- Honoring Alaska Federation of Natives

D. OLD BUSINESS Story Telling Update: Michelle presented her idea to focus the story telling project on

just Lathrop High school this year, and branching out to other schools and organizations

over the next few years.

E. NEW BUSINESS Guest: Tanya Mosher, Ben Eielson Cultural Liaison. Ms. Mosher spoke to the Committee about her role as a Cultural Liaison, and the committee members present offered ideas as to how to get more involved with the students and other school liaisons. Doreen will provide Ms. Mosher with a list of the additional Cultural Liaisons within the district.

F. INFORMATION 1. The next committee meeting will be November 10, 2016 from 5:30 — 7:00 in room 426.

G. CLOSING COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS

H. ADJOURNMENT Georgia Sandgren made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.

Board Diversity Committee

2016 - 2017

Working Goals

1. Receive periodic updates from Maintain open contact with the DAP Hiring Committee in order to identify-where be available as a resource wherever the BDC can be of help in

the hiring, recruiting and retention process for diverse staff.

2. Identify a better approach to gather information for and to conduct future climate surveys.

(The Committee decided Georgia would be point person for this goal)

3. Collaborate with other groups within the community in order to be more active in cultural

events within the in order to be more active in cultural events within the District. actively tell their diverse stories.

will allow principals and administrators ample time to prepare for events held for each

fesetutien, The Committee discussed identifying resources available for each resolution

(reaching out to Ms. Mendelowitz).

5. Collaborate with cultural liaisons throughout the district in order to determine where the

BDC can be of help.

6. Begin reaching out to the community in order to ensure that the BDC and its

function/mission is known and properly utilized throughout the district.

FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH BOARD OF EDUCATION

RESOLUTION 2017-10:

HONORING ALASKA NATIVE AND AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH

WHEREAS, Alaska Natives were the original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the Fairbanks North Star Borough; and

WHEREAS, Alaska Natives value and respect traditional knowledge and skills as well as classroom education; and

WHEREAS, students of Alaska Native and American Indian heritage comprise more than 19 percent of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District's student body; and

WHEREAS, Alaska Native and American Indian parents and guardians are engaged in their students' education; and

WHEREAS, over seventy teachers of Alaska Native and American Indian heritage distinguish themselves as educators in Fairbanks North Star Borough School District classrooms; and

WHEREAS, principals and administrators of Alaska Native and American Indian heritage lead their schools and the district with vision; and

WHEREAS, Alaska Natives and American Indians have served the school board with distinction; and

WHEREAS, Alaska Native and American Indian paraprofessional and classified staff support all students' learning; and

WHEREAS, November is the time we traditionally give thanks for the abundance of our blessings, it is an important time to celebrate the historic and current role the voices of Alaska Natives and American Indians have contributed to our nation, state, borough, and district; and

WHEREAS, incorporating Native Ways of Knowing and the Alaska Cultural Standards into the curriculum and teaching the contributions of Native history, culture, society, and language in the classroom promotes academic success for Native students and increases the understanding of all students;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Board of Education proclaims November 2016 Alaska Native and American Indian Heritage Month and encourages schools and teachers to honor it with performances, readings, guest speakers, displays, lessons, lectures, and cultural celebrations throughout the year.

Passed and Approved: October 18, 2016

-

Heidi Haas, President Board of Education

ATTEST:

Sharon Tuttle Executive Assistant to the Board of Education

FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH BOARD OF EDUCATION

RESOLUTION 2017-09:

HONORING THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES

WHEREAS, the Alaska Federation of Natives is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its inception during the third week of October 2016; and

WHEREAS, the Elders and Youth Conference hosted by First Alaskans Institute, begins the week with a multitude of engaging workshops and discussions; and

WHEREAS, the State of Alaska is the Indigenous home for Native people; and

WHEREAS, Native people of the State of Alaska strive to preserve and promote Alaska Native traditions, language, and culture; and

WHEREAS, Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders serve as ambassadors of traditional knowledge and the Alaska Native culture; and

WHEREAS, Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders visiting the Interior Region have provided strong leadership and representation for the Native people; and

WHEREAS, Alaska Native youth are claiming their culture, language, and history; and

WHEREAS, students and educators need to have a strong foundation in order to achieve academically, move forward, and be successful in life;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Board of Education recognizes and honors the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Federation of Natives and encourages schools and teachers to study the lives and leadership of Indigenous people in the State of Alaska and welcome and honor Alaska Native visitors during the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Conference, as well as the Elders and Youth Conference with class field trips, joining the webcast, inviting guest presenters into the classroom, and offering lesson plans on the Alaska Federation of Natives and the issues that are discussed during the convention.

Passed and Approved: October 18, 2016

\C\e(ktie, Heidi Haas, President Board of Education

ATTEST:

Akrat-ois.

Sharon Tuttle Executive Assistant to the Board of Education