Warwick School District Moves to Ensure Equity

By Lisa Rice

The Warwick Valley Central School Board welcomed Dr. Gess LeBlanc, Associate Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at Hunter College to the regular meeting held virtually on Thurs., Mar. 4 to discuss culturally inclusive education. A Dutchess County resident, Dr. LeBlanc has worked with other school districts in Orange and neighboring counties to assess and advance cultural equity in the school climate.

“I prepare people to be teachers, school leaders and counselors, primarily school counselors and mental health counselors,” Dr. LeBlanc said. He stated that it is important to realize that many students and their families are dealing with stress and trauma right now and how the district must be a support system for all families and give everyone a feeling of connectedness.

“When I think about equity work, that’s the big goal that I always use,” he continued. “Equity is large and so there may be a number of different factors that may be influencing why certain children and their families don’t feel a level of connectedness and a level of support; but it’s critical that the big goal of this work be to ensure that all of our children and families, regardless of background, feel that level of connectedness and support.”

Raise Awareness & Knowledge

He commended the district on the number of extracurricular activities provided given the current pandemic restrictions. He said that schools should be centers of healing and there should be psychologically safe spaces as well as physically safe spaces for students.

“The first aspect of the work that I see is really to raise our awareness,” he said. “I realize that the reason I am here is because some concerns have been brought forward and raised. I think it is critically important for us to think strategically about how to advance equity work. That takes time, it takes inclusivity, and it takes data collection.”

“Another aspect of our work in terms of raising our awareness, is also raising our knowledge,” he said, adding that he could provide workshops and similar activities for faculty and staff.

As a getting-to-know-you exercise, Dr. LeBlanc suggested the board ask him questions. Superintendent Dr. David Leach asked how they would ensure that focus groups are representative; Dr. LeBlanc said that the district putting a call out to the community for multiple voices to participate in focus groups by way of a letter works better than the district identifying representatives. He said that better data would be collected with a “wider net.”

Board member Denise Ginley asked how to help make sure teachers are not fearful that these efforts will add to the already heavy burden of work they already handle. LeBlanc said that the first phase will be to establish a committee, probably by the end of the academic year. He said he starts with the perspective that wonderful things are already happening in the district. There needs to be an assessment done on where changes need to be made to move forward. Once broad goals are established, subcommittees will be formed to identify specific workstreams and eventually implement change.

At the end of the meeting, eleven public comments were read, all in response to a recent email sent out by Dr. Leach in which he stated that the district will “continue meaningful conversations about equity, diversity and inclusion.” While the majority of the comments were in support of the action, a couple expressed concern for the school implementing radical and/or political stances in the classroom.

Elementary Moving to Full-Time In-Person Instruction

Prior to passing the virtual microphone to Dr. LeBlanc, Dr. Leach provided updates on the state of in-person instruction.

“Our priority remains, of course, a safe return to in-person learning for all our students,” said Leach. “A reminder, our kindergarten, first and second grade students continue to receive in-person on a full-time basis, five days a week, and the district continues to offer a distance learning academy to all students. Our third and fourth grade students currently receiving in-person instruction every other day, will return to school on a full-time basis, five days a week, beginning Mon., Mar. 15. So, therefore, the district will end the hybrid model at the elementary level and elementary principals will be notifying families, I believe tomorrow, with more information. So, I thank the faculty, staff and administration for the steps that were needed to accomplish that goal.”

“Additional challenges remain at the middle school and high school level to return to a full in-person environment, such as classroom space and staffing and transportation. However, we are hearing from officials that the New York State Department of Health will share updated guidance very soon which will likely permit more students in more grade levels to return on a full time basis.” Leach stated that he is still waiting for more guidance from the department of health, but that he is optimistic that as the infection rates drop and more staff get vaccinated, they will be able to get more students back into the building.

In partnership with Sun River Health, the school district had 300 employees receive their first vaccination in the school gym on Sun., Feb. 28. Leach also said that he is in discussion with Sun River Health to use the high school gym as a location to vaccinate the public.

He also reported that there were seven positive COVID-19 cases last week in the district, which resulted in 15 staff members and 60 students being quarantined.

Wildcats Athletes Enjoy Great Season

Leach said that he was pleased to share with the board that “we thrived in this shortened athletic season” and that the athletes had no quarantines. The basketball teams played 12 games each; girls had a 12-0 record and boys finished 8-4. The Warwick swim team broke four pool records and the ski team earned Section IX titles.

Extracurriculars in Full Bloom

Stating that “extracurriculars have never been so important to students as they are now,” Dr. Leach provided highlights that would later be praised by consultant Dr. LeBlanc.

The Elementary Drama Clubs have announced their productions for the spring. Park Avenue will have 59 students participating in Annie Kids, rehearsing remotely with a production to be held at the drive-in later this spring. Sanfordville Elementary will be making a movie musical production of Frozen.

Park Avenue Elementary and the Pine Island Kindergarten will both be holding talent shows.

Sanfordville Elementary is working with the Master Gardeners reading Tales of the Dairy Godmother Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish by Viola Butler.

Many elementary students have had the chance to hone their community service skills by participating in Warwick Spread the Warmth, an initiative that parent Kerry Fenton Foley came up with to attach mittens, hats and gloves to the fence at Pine Island Park for anyone who needs them. Ms. Canfield’s Kindergarten alone stuffed 80 plastic bags.

Middle School students modified their annual Valentines for Vets program, instead offering a tribute video put together to thank veterans, masks made by seventh graders and Valentine’s Day cards sent to U.S. troops.

Middle schoolers have also partnered with high schoolers for mindfulness workshops. They will be having an art show and virtual music concerts. Drama club, intramural and modified sports clubs have all started meeting virtually.

2021-2022 School Budget Update

“The district is working to develop a budget with no increase in the tax levy next school year,” said Leach. “So, assuming we receive the projected state aid that we are due; if we assume that goal is met, since 2014, the last eight budgets, the average increase in the levy would be about one in six-tenths or one in sixty four hundredths.” He further explained that New York State revenues are coming in higher than expected but the state is still contending with the devastating revenue losses caused by the pandemic and will need the federal government’s assistance. As a result, any resolution of the NYS budget for 2021-2022 hinges on the federal government and stimulus funding. The district is “hopeful that we’ll know more soon.” New York State aid represents 28% of the school budget.

Senior Spotlight: Simone Sullivan

Student board member Simone Sullivan provided her regular update, which included a detailed recap of the athletics provided by Dr. Leach, an announcement that the High School Drama Club would be offering a streamed musical production of Songs for New Worlds in May, and that the guidance office surprised seniors with Valentine’s Day gift bags. When she finished, however, her own accomplishments were acknowledged by board president Sharon Davis and applauded by the entire board of education and guests. Sullivan received congratulations for being a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and a member of the Section IX championship ski team. Sullivan announced that she will be attending Northwestern University in the fall.

Next Meeting

While the district is holding their meetings via Zoom, they are available for viewing in their entirety on the district’s YouTube channel. The next meeting will be held on Thurs., Apr. 22 at 7 p.m