HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/2013
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
CIO Southold, New York 11971
ANTI-BIAS TASK FORCE
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SOUTHOLD ANTI-BIAS TASK FORCE MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 21, 2013
PRESENT: Cindy Smith, Louise Hug, Jean Le Pre, Carolyn Peabody, Susan Dingle,
LeRoy Heyliger, Michael Domino, Marjorie Day, Loretta Hatzel-Geraci, Rev Nathaniel
Heyward Sr., Merle Levine, and Valerie Shelby.
Guests are: Loida Santos and Stephanie Monroy (Bias Help (631-479-6015)
L.
There is a motion to accept the minutes noting typo errors. All are in favor.
LD BUSINESS:
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Jean , Eleanor, and Carolyn went to the Human Rights Commission presentation at
Suffolk Community College on Oct 18, 2013. Rabbi Moss and Rev Joann Barrett were
also there.
Greenport School incident with Teacheribias is updated. C Smith has met with School
Principal Len Skuggivich. He is going to follow up on allegations.
BIAS HELP guest speakers are here today (Loida and Stephanie). All schools need to
respond to the DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT. The July 2012 Act ensures that
children have a safe environment to act. Bias help is willing to do a training at any
school. Their programs address bias, discrimination and violence against all populations. j
They talk about racism; anti-Semitism; homophobia; and other forms of discrimination
including sexual harassment. Programs also address bullying, cyber bullying, youth
violence and immigration issues.
Teachers should not disclose their personal positions to students.
Every school should have a coordinator and all teachers and subs should know who that
person is.
Bias-Help will train coordinators, staff and parents. They like to have a classroom
setting. They do a survey to find hot spots (DACA). The no tolerance policy
should be reiterated every day.
Even if complaints are anonymous behaviors need to be addressed.
Teachers should be mandated for training.
ABTF should follow up if situations are addressed. If there is no follow up taking the
issue to the Board of Ed is recommended. Teachers must report Bias.
As of July 2013, cyber-bullying is included in the law. The school must address an
incident in 1 day if behaviors occur in school.
Jillian Ruroede (Greenport Social Worker) has had Ovais (bullying prevention). They
will begin to train their teachers.
Encourage parents to call the school again if they feel their issue has not been addressed.
Schools must report incidents at eh end of the year.
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For legal assistance it is recommended to call LI Advocacy Center especially if a child
feels so traumatized they don't feel safe.
School boards put principals "in position".
NEW BUSINESS:
The ABTF Martin Luther King celebration venue may be Mattituck Presbyterian Church.
However they don't have a pastor at the moment, but it is being taken into
consideration.
MLK committee _ Jean L, Susan D, Leroy H., Marjorie Day and Valerie Shelby will
meet Oct 28 at Mikes Deli at 10 am.
There is a film "Stop Bullying" taking place at he theater. ABTF is offered a chance to
participate. Several members would like to go.
One future program to introduce anti-bullying is Slam Poetry by Susan Dingle.
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* NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 18, 2013 AT 10 AM /TOWN
HALL.
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