HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/24/2014
Anti-Bias Task Force of Southold Town
Minutes of Meeting Monday, February 24, 2014
Present: Eleanor Lingo, Jean Le Pre, Val Shelby, Leroy Heyliger, Mike Domino, Susan
Dingle
Excused: Cindy Smith, Louise Hug, Carolyn Peabody, Marjorie Day, Merle Levine
A Quorum was not present.
Guest: Councilman Bill Ruland (sitting in on behalf of Supervisor)
Minutes:
Note that corrections to minutes should be specified in subsequent meetings.
The corrections are as follows: Spelling of names: Merle Levine (not Miller).
Jus B'Cuz is the correct spelling of the singing group's name
Motion made, seconded to accept minutes as corrected above. Motion Passed.
Comments on Martin Luther King Celebration:
A successful event: $317 was collected as donation for the Frank Le Pre Library.
Suggestion made to buy for the library the book from the Jack and Jill Program
which Leroy's grandson was involved in: It was noted that the book has not yet
been published, but that we will be kept informed about its progress, as this would
be an appropriate addition to the library.
The Orient Congregational Church has requested that the event be held there next
year.
Discussion about challenges with kids today-importance of getting them involved
when they are so involved with technology. Each school has contact person for
community service. Leroy asked if we had names of these contacts. The delegates
assigned to school can find out the names.
Merle will be writing a letter to go out to the schools, should have it for next meeting
for approval.
It was suggested that we find out the names of those responsible for the Dignity Act
at the school-these people can be invited to ABTF meeting, to help them be more in
alignment with the law.
Mattituck has special committee: question raised as to who is contact person for
other schools. The DASA (Dignity for all Students Act Policy) pamphlet was passed
around.
As a Board, we need to have the contact information for these people.. We want to
find out who these people are at each of the schools, so that we can communicate
with them, invite them to our meetings and support their efforts.
In August, the Fishers Island Board meets. Fishers Island School has unique
challenge, accepting private students from CT who commute. There are 150
students in the school, K-12. Challenges because people sending children are from
the families of Pfizer executives. Councilman Ruland pointed out the struggles of
this district to recruit teachers, provide housing etc. How can we come together.
Leroy brought up an incident of perceived discrimination. An educator from
Oysterponds Dorothy Dean Thomas said that veterans from Vietnam should be
excluded from an exemption so the school won't lose revenue. Councilman Ruland
clarified that the Boards of Education determine whether to extend the exemption
to veterans, but it does not separate out groups of veterans. Leroy wrote a letter to
the Suffolk Times about this. Discussion about bias contributes to the education of
the community about what bias is, and how to identify it.
ERASE Racism sub-committee meeting on March 3 @10AM at Mike's Deli.
Review of distribution of Books, three to each school. Councilman Ruland will take
books to Fisher's Island.
No reports from the Schools.
Leroy will join Carolyn for Mattituck
No report from the police.
New Business:
Date for picnic is the second Saturday in August, August 9.
Eleanor announced Leroy will be speaking for Southold town senior citizens group
on Thursday.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Dingle