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At its March 23, 2021 meeting, the North Kingstown School Committee approved the creation of an NKSC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Special Subcommittee (DEI).
“Purpose:
The purpose of this resolution is to create a special subcommittee of the North Kingstown School Committee to ensure that students have equitable access to educational opportunities that help them achieve their full potential while supporting and harnessing their individuality as well as the history and backgrounds of their families and the entire North Kingstown community.
The North Kingstown School Department (NKSD) believes that all students and staff deserve a respectful and inclusive environment. The North Kingstown School Committee supports these principles and wishes to examine how race, ethnicity, language, disability, religion, age, gender, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, country of ancestral origin, interrupted education status, military status, or any other category protected by law affect and influence district-wide practices.”
Agenda, Minutes, and Video coverage of the full March 23rd NKSC meeting can be found here:
The DEI sub-committee serves in a purely advisory capacity. It has no decision-making authority. It is made up of 13 volunteer members of the community (selected from over 50 applicants) and chaired by the Assistant Superintendent and a member of the School Committee.
All DEI subcommittee meetings are subject to the RI Open Meeting Laws. Notice of them is posted on the RI Secretary of State's website at least 48 hours in advance along with an agenda.
There have been two meetings so far, one on 5/19 and one on 6/16.
At the 5/19 meeting the DEI subcommittee approved the creation of an affinity group at NKHS. It is intended to be a safe space for students' voices to be heard, experiences to be shared, and a place to be supported and to support one another. [Called the Racial Equity Alliance], it is open to all and is run no differently from any other club or activity at the high school.
The full agendas and minutes from DEI subcommittee meetings can be found here :
