HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/2009SOUTHOLD TOWN ANTI-BIAS TASK FORCE
MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 16, 2009
ATTENDANCE: Pat Fulford, Audrev Horton, Mike Domino, Eleanor Lingo,
Peter Rel. Rev Heyward~ Cindy Smith~ .lean I~e Pre~ Jeanne
Marie Merkel, Carolyn Peabody, Merle Levine
ABSENT: Val Shelby, Betty Murphy, Edana Cichanowicz.
Guest, Ron Richardson
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
BROCHURE: Audrey Horton requested members provide input.
SCllOOLS: Report by Carolyn Peabody: Research re Student
Questionnaire: School Community members sent questions. Want
a sense of what everyone is looking for in the high schools and middle
schools in all districts, inclusive of administration, faculty and
staff.
For students - how safe do they feel; do they feel targeted in
any way; safe from bullying and harassment, for ethnic, or sexual
orientation?
For Faculty - how do they think things are, in terms of safety,
What are their different perceptions?
Research study is also looking at other questionnaires.
Plan to meet with the community, at Rev. Dozier's Church.
Report on Letters sent to Teachers who participated in the
Erase Racism Workshop 1, to see if they are willing to attend
Workshop 11 in February.
Orient neglected for the questionnaire because they are an
Elementary school. However, Merle Levine and Rev. Heyward were
Requested to make contact with the school on behalf of ABTF.
Greenport:; Cindy Smith and Rev. Heyward will plan to
Attend School Board Meeting. and Mar.iorie Day will attend as
possible.
Southold: no new information, Mike Domino
Mattituck: Carolyn Peabody reporting: Pushing the School
Board re Diversity. Tracey Taylor is a vehement voice on diversity
Advisory. Three members of the School Board - including the chair,
And vice chair. -- met with 2 rer~resentatives from the Center for
Equity) (from Manhattan), with Carolyn as chairperson and members
of the community. Parents spoke their concerns. The Superintendent
had attended an event at Stony Brook on eliminating prejudice, and people
from the community had gone to a meeting on immigration. The Superi-
tendent brought pumpkin muffins and cider, and this first step of taking
toge:her was not confrontational. School people were willing to listen.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, December 1.
Bias event in school - Student on way to gym drew a swastika on the
blackboard. Student was apprehended, there was a police report, and he has
been referred to Ston Bias oroeram of Rabbi Moss.
Discussion on bias in Mattituck: Jean Le Pre said it was "rampant.
The Principal, Mr. Petretti, declared there was "no problem."
Peter Bel asked if there were influence from outside, notably, gang
Mentality, and Jean Le Pre affirmed that that was a problem.
Mayor Nyce had created 4 advisory groups to deal with the problems
of gangs, family life (Rev. Heyward_, Housing (Val Shelby), Crime (Eleanor
Lingo) and Education (?)
The East End Community Picnic is set for Saturday, August 28, at Laurel Lake.
The following agreed to work together as coo-chairs - Pat Fulford, Cindy Smith,
Audrey Horton, Jean Le Pre, and Rev. Heyward.
The Education Committee will meet on Monday, Nov. 23, at 10 a.m. at the
Greenport Deli, to plan for the Martin Luther King Memorial Program: Jean Le
Pre, Jeanne Marie Merkel, Peter Bel and Eleanor Lingo.
Cindy Smith wrote to commend the Police Department on their Bias reports.
Next Meeting - Monday, Dec. 21,2009