By Dylan Marsh
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Insight Education Group (IEG) will be performing an equity audit within the Springfield, Vermont School District.
The group intends to complete a multi-phase audit spanning from September until February. During this time they will determine what, if any, examples of systemic racism exists within the district, and offer recommendations about potential restructuring to offer equitable education, as well as a working environment in the district.
Representatives from IEG met with the school board in a recent meeting outlining the mission of the audit, as well as the four phase plan that began earlier this month. Utilizing an equity framework, the group will be looking to find not only what opportunities are available to students and educators, but also determine the level of access to those opportunities everyone has readily available.
“Many times we hear people say our high school offers AP classes, but sometimes there’s a different story told when we look at the students in the classroom and look at which students have access to those classes. That’s one example of how we can look at opportunities and access,” said IEG Partnership Manager Kathleen England during the presentation to the school board.
The framework in which they will conduct their research has five main pillars, each with separate focuses on improving equity within the district. IEG will be determining the effect power structures, policies, and organizational systems have on creating a fair learning and working environment.
They will also be focusing on the culture and community of the school, racial equity in the workplace, recruitment and retention, as well as the curriculum within the school. Last year, the Springfield Schoolboard voted down a proposed resolution aimed at banning critical race theory being taught in the district. It was reported that after that vote, School Board Chair Troy Palmer stated that it was the board’s intention to bring in a group to conduct an equity audit, as well as conduct community wide conversations to bring the community together.
IEG laid out a timeline of phases in which the audit will be completed. Presently, the district is in its first phase, during which IEG will be accumulating as many documents as they are able in regard to academic achievement, discipline, staffing, demographics, as well as employee retention rates.
They will also be inspecting handbooks and policies aimed at equity management. Once they have a complete overview of the district phase two begins in October and continues throughout November. During this time, IEG will be conducting surveys with stakeholders who include school leaders, educators, staff, family and secondary students.
The survey will include questions that are centered around the framework of the audit. Following this, throughout November and December the group will be conducting a focus group at which they will be able to put a narrative to the data collected between the gathering and surveying process.
Finally, the group will be integrating all the data they will be receiving and generate their findings. From here, the district can begin to have a conversation in regards to what they feel will be the best steps to take following IEG recommendations.
Equity audits are not unheard of in Vermont. Earlier this the city of Winooski, VT had an audit conducted that focused on not only the schools, but the city as a whole. It was reported the town of Winooski, while diverse, was not considered inclusive.
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