[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6577666,"mediaKeyId","3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80","parentId",3110688,"title","DEI advisory moves to pursue accessibility audit and building walk-throughs; parents to raise issues at CELAC","audioSeconds",599,"startMs",3248000,"endMs",3847000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80&start=3248&end=3847","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80/thumbnail_3248000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6577666/North-Kingstown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/DEI-advisory-moves-to-pursue-accessibility-audit-and-building-walk-throughs-parents-to-raise-issues-at-CELAC","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577666-5db6b11f9547d40eb11652ca15373979/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196194&Signature=YCdLa8oMXj6D0oeNB5l1sQve3G65r~4QeVoEQtg0a6HynjWOXJcSH89PEO2oFcVGIysg~ak53LkwgazuMNhtlHftM2kJ-QQaFlliiOl2g9LAK7Meq5DojxduQrDid9gMSaVU9p60Ltdk1q~MX7ipEGgH9mopoZzosgWw3cx-247lMUlIO~BOKz9R6zEXPFTP~pOsAeAWkjJT8swStHDj3OU8ebsHenzQeJk7pkA8m19W5iNqlpE7SYC9-PEH0~Q~CD-ObuByNBJjkNt66nGIZYOa2GlKN~5phbR6AryzkZOKo65KojehlbYRdAij72dOi~QUrkNez-DzW9ldBTPUQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Kingstown","date","2025-04-24T13:34:43.49Z","article","During the April 23 meeting the DEI advisory committee reviewed plans for an accessibility and inclusion audit of school buildings and grounds, aiming to identify physical and programmatic barriers and to gather parent input via CELAC.

Mary Lowe Prestige, identified in the meeting as a parent advocate, said the draft checklist would cover parking, ramps, bathrooms, playground surfacing, signage and the language accessibility of event materials. Committee members noted a distinction between legal accessibility (meeting minimum standards) and inclusive accessibility (how visible, welcoming and usable facilities and communications are for diverse families). \"Something might be accessible, but that does not mean that it is friendly,\" one member said.

Participants suggested practical next steps: (1) seek existing checklists or guidance from the state governor’s commission on disability or similar bodies; (2) convene a team for building walk-throughs that could include facilities staff, administrators and parent representatives; and (3) bring the topic to the next CELAC meeting for parent feedback. Committee members volunteered to contact the governor’s commission about available checklists.

Members also raised specific facility concerns: the high-school elevator location is distant from many classrooms and is perceived as awkward or unsafe by some families and students; accessible parking and routes were described as sometimes poorly sited for van lifts; and playground surfacing must allow wheelchair access (rubberized surfaces instead of wood chips). The committee said the district’s Capital Improvement Plan includes some accessibility work but that additional items—particularly signage, circulation, and classroom-area visibility—may not yet be scheduled.

No formal vote occurred; the committee agreed Mary Lowe Prestige would raise the audit and parent-feedback item at the upcoming CELAC meeting, and staff or volunteers will seek ready-made assessment tools and coordinate potential walk-through teams.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NKSD DEI SubCommittee Meeting April 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 23 meeting, the North Kingstown DEI advisory committee agreed to pursue an accessibility and inclusion audit for school buildings and grounds and to solicit parent feedback at an upcoming CELAC meeting.","taxTitle","North Kingstown, School Districts, Rhode Island","taxId",73306,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577671,"DEI committee weighs wording, video and rollout for district equity vision",567,1220000,1787000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80&start=1220&end=1787","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80/thumbnail_1220000.jpg","/articles/6577671/North-Kingstown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/DEI-committee-weighs-wording-video-and-rollout-for-district-equity-vision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577671-14f312e3535b228293a984e4810c1fc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196194&Signature=kOjyYhxnlJry9KscEvLBsHfn3ZbkXlLEUNyLuJLmbPB23IZNO-D5QDRmhpIlKe2fs1Trqf02~Zi2tCae48UM9knMIyLiZHfBGDrXr6I64d82DjWc-UWfVMg-15py~sAT7WCDRk5hPRipWRdB7vCXLimjevyT37dhWTgAshjovICaLfSpPqQLFzbXPILb3DJW~VVg49s-~mAochM6jaR87sgc~DyGGXOPDx8keNgt-PxdpPsGo-w24dVo6oLxJRaQDurFGB~B~4kAo5buxSxyXAJ1wVbd0nd5n79P6zARgGHUz2lRmdAeeEAEzwBu79Kdh-H6JP-Kia0lYKtvdAZb9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 23 meeting, the North Kingstown DEI Advisory Committee discussed plans to publicize the district’s equity vision statement to staff, students and the broader community and reviewed options for wording, a promotional video, and visible materials in schools.

Sally Davidson said the equity vision statement was shared with staff before the March PD and posted on the district website. \"The first line in the North Kingstown schools, we envision, a place where all belong,\" she said when describing the draft language and plans to gather student reactions and video footage at Quinesset. Davidson said she is planning a short promotional video and is coordinating with building allies and school staff to collect student voice and footage.

Committee members discussed alternatives to the phrasing, including the student-centered \"I belong,\" the district-framed phrasing \"We/All belong,\" and a proposed acronym such as CARES to place focus on district actions (for example, \"creating an equitable, responsive school\"). Students on the committee and adult members weighed the trade-offs: some supported \"I belong\" as empowering to students; others said an institutional pledge emphasizing the district's responsibility — \"We all belong\" or an action-based acronym — might avoid implying that belonging is solely the student’s responsibility.

Committee members suggested a mixed rollout strategy: student assemblies or short in-school activities, placement on digital boards and the district homepage, stickers or other visible materials in cafeterias and hallways, a social-media component, and an art contest to engage students across grades. Davidson said the School Committee had authorized about $3,000 for promotional items and that administration would manage procurement and campus-level placement; she asked building leaders to advise what could be provided for free by schools and what would require funds.

Davidson said a concrete near-term goal would be simple awareness: she suggested that if roughly half the community recognizes the statement by the end of June, that would represent early success, with higher recognition targeted for the following year.

The committee also discussed accessibility of materials (translations, ASL or nonverbal communication options) and cautioned that visuals should reflect the district’s diversity. A request was made to bring the item to the next CELAC meeting on April 30 for additional community feedback.

No formal vote on the statement text occurred at the DEI advisory meeting; members asked staff to refine plans, finalize the video timeline and consult building administrators and students before broader public rollout.","The committee discussed the district’s equity vision statement rollout — including a proposed video, student involvement, an approximate $3,000 budget authorization for promotional materials, and debate over phrasing such as “I belong” versus “We all belong” or a CARES acronym.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577676,"Committee reviews March PD feedback; district plans summer equity-leader workshops and asynchronous training",386,411000,797000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80&start=411&end=797","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80/thumbnail_411000.jpg","/articles/6577676/North-Kingstown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Committee-reviews-March-PD-feedback-district-plans-summer-equity-leader-workshops-and-asynchronous-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577676-8544f627a21d7bf6d6040a7b5a4b2c4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196194&Signature=I4gXLdgqMrXgO3RrKtamqWvXbtil-Op3sMcp-doibkZIl8ceWkhO50Ccrs1VREfFHBJPyN7ntjz5dpahVJmUgcLFWjzLPlqE69JA1PMMDtzE1jNs87sTKbL30~QYsxRDG-BchyOt4IhDRiJRi-AWpBqKSQNOMrTJxq~HGJTvmklZ4PT7cLPtbMmd-Zy4i95oImP2m59vaFicWezuArR7EmT4DzGfeFt9PBl7APd~xfSkq1kzDpweSZU14vrR3A3bycxZbNOJyxIDxx7eUgG23cISmA7HsPSiAfHnJZav8jYdYYVrwHuSzJMBQU4~sTC5O3LZ6A04gt9ShYYm2MRsTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 23 DEI advisory meeting, Sally Davidson, the district’s Equity, Belonging and Community Engagement Coordinator, reviewed feedback from the March professional development (PD) day and outlined next steps for staff learning on culturally responsive practice.

Davidson said the March PD drew roughly 600 participants in the afternoon sessions and included an estimated 32 concurrent workshops. The event’s content received generally positive remarks, she said, but a substantial share of attendees reported they would have preferred expert-led facilitation rather than self-directed \"playlist\" activities. \"I think it was about half or maybe 40-something percent\" who said they would have preferred facilitator-led workshops, Davidson said.

In response, the district is preparing three prongs of follow-up professional learning: a library of mostly asynchronous webinars (some provide completion certificates), a curated list of local PD providers that could supply expert facilitators, and two in-person workshops in early June led by consultant Dr. Kayan Marie Johnson. Davidson said the June sessions are intended for roughly 20 participants — ideally pairs from each school building (an administrator and a teacher) — to develop building-level equity goals and action steps.

Davidson described how the district is still ironing out the process for awarding professional learning units (PLUs) for staff who complete asynchronous material: staff who earn certificates or submit short learning synopses would receive PLUs from Davidson or from Kim Ramos, the district’s technology and MLL coach. \"Some of them give you a certificate at the end to show that you did complete the webinar, others don't, and so we're asking instead for a synopsis of your learning,\" she said.

Committee members and staff discussed attendance patterns, the trade-offs between expert-led and self-guided formats, and accessibility of asynchronous options for staff who prefer private learning. No formal decisions were taken; Davidson said she will finalize communications and coordinate with building leaders on selecting participants for the June workshops.

Speakers emphasized that future PD should balance adult-learning approaches, facilitator capacity, and staff comfort with sensitive topics; the committee suggested reducing the number of simultaneous topics so expert facilitators can be placed in each room if the model is repeated.

Proposed next steps from the meeting included releasing the asynchronous webinar library in June and confirming the list of building pairs to attend the June workshops.","DEI committee members discussed feedback from the March professional development day, plans for asynchronous webinars with PLU credit, and two early-June workshops to train building-level equity leaders with an outside consultant.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577681,"North Kingstown schools face roughly $602,000 shortfall as health, transport costs rise",0,3550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80&start=3550&end=3550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80/thumbnail_3550000.jpg","/articles/6577681/North-Kingstown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/North-Kingstown-schools-face-roughly-602000-shortfall-as-health-transport-costs-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577681-b9c614fcc59ed50ce95364caee026fcc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196194&Signature=GbKeZ-uLL47OFZNk5eMrWpW5gXtnMBV8FNlBR7uF1ei0~Pz9Gwe~8C0l2jqIU7XQJxNH3Lpq5ldNAkdwGFxeXeMgYFBOY0ztq1R~CoYO-shRgQnEX1Aj9x734raTVBnWzbzYmV8hVvQo1hHQWsW7B0~UPlIONoRYqVdd9Ho1stzrapiBdr1AziZQGVnoByzG3ThNrAJgH-i~uM6ztUmgbdSkPn7MA3Q5UyHRPJ~14GsCgBiXd2hjfTcPIIpEwqgD39AVYncXQAaBy~1kUkT90XNkT4DauIqaibFxQ6rBh4Ox~wT6mWjFVmd3BvuWqQ5xGneAw7ht9Ve2RpK66cWdBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On April 23, members of the North Kingstown DEI Advisory Committee were briefed on a potential $602,000 budget shortfall for the school district caused by higher health and dental premiums and increased out-of-district transportation rates, alongside a preliminary reduction in town funding.

Sally Davidson, Equity, Belonging and Community Engagement Coordinator, said the district is seeing about $285,000 in unexpected health and dental costs and roughly $207,000 in additional transportation expenses compared with the assumptions used to prepare the approved school budget. Davidson said the town manager and town council have preliminarily rolled the town’s municipal-side increase into a figure that is about $110,000 less than the schools requested, leaving an estimated $602,000 deficit.

The shortfall matters to the DEI advisory committee because Davidson and other meeting participants identified several equity-focused items that could be affected if the district must reduce spending, including contracted transportation for students, teacher-wellness supports and other initiatives the committee helped to place in prior budgets. \"That means things would have to be cut. Some of the things that have been mentioned for cutting are some of the things that this committee has worked really hard to get put into the budget over the past few years,\" Davidson said.

Erin Earl, School Committee chair, told the committee the administration and School Committee will seek to work with the town to bridge the gap but noted the town's authority at this stage is to provide a lump-sum appropriation rather than to direct where cuts are made. \"All the town council is able to do is give us a lump sum number. They don't get to tell us what to do with the money,\" Earl said. She said the School Committee and administration must present a balanced budget and would decide how to allocate any reductions if the town’s final appropriation remains lower than requested.

The town council was scheduled to finalize its vote on the municipal budget on Monday, April 28; committee members said subsequent budget adjustments and any final decisions about program reductions would be made by the district after that vote. No cuts were approved at the meeting; committee discussion focused on informing members about the fiscal risk and possible program areas that could be affected.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the additional health/dental cost discussed was $285,000; additional out-of-district/transportation costs were $207,000; the town’s preliminary reduction was about $110,000, and those figures were presented as yielding a roughly $602,000 budget gap that the district must address to produce a balanced budget.

The committee did not take formal action on budgeting priorities; members and staff said they will continue conversations with the School Committee and town officials about options and advocacy ahead of the town’s final appropriation vote.","District administrators told the DEI advisory committee that higher-than-expected health/dental and out-of-district transportation costs, combined with a preliminary town funding reduction, could create a roughly $602,000 deficit that may force cuts to programs including equity initiatives.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577661,"DEI advisory approves minutes and adjourns; survey item tabled for School Committee",3964,44000,4008000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80&start=44&end=4008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110688-4aba39c68d550713dfffdfe6a66e7e80/thumbnail_44000.jpg","/articles/6577661/North-Kingstown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/DEI-advisory-approves-minutes-and-adjourns-survey-item-tabled-for-School-Committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577661-4ececc642a0ba44102d3fd9a304a00a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196194&Signature=EUIgtm6u4VLxOoMXcnQNUY0pmD-vRrmfpIScazaujA5Ceck6W5Thf2cscWa~ivhTkCkgLGeLDZljfJR1dte3S9gLcxyYqY6YujvHBgB7q39ueazsp0Vy5SQbnLhUq1HbEQQwPrhDErl07HeBzcKJmw9yRLSByrRFngEUKZRx8V0xplUsdIu-q~csny93p3ijzE-N9j004SEhSqVqThS3JQ0-fjM0eS7Qlt-1ldnT~Gn7uNjX8y-3IS86Dl2oVjnO1rKpjKP~GqS4Wjxxu6jC4q0DZ2Vyp-H5tW56XUKBLJDpfW8JHp3~usUVmIXO9difrheSsgDow-sEtTEiW6urAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 23 meeting the DEI advisory committee approved the minutes from the previous meeting and later moved to adjourn; both motions were seconded and carried during the session.

The committee also discussed a district survey that the School Committee tabled at its prior meeting because of a marathon budget discussion; committee members said the survey item is scheduled for the School Committee agenda on May 6.

Motions recorded in the transcript did not include named movers or seconders for the approvals reported at the DEI meeting; the committee treated the items as routine meeting procedures and did not attach conditions to the approvals.

Actions recorded:
- Motion to approve minutes from the previous meeting — moved/seconded; outcome: approved.
- Motion to adjourn — moved/seconded; outcome: approved.
- School Committee action (reported to DEI committee): survey was tabled at the School Committee and is on the School Committee agenda for May 6 (no action taken by DEI advisory on the survey at this meeting).","The DEI advisory committee approved the prior meeting’s minutes and adjourned; a survey item was reported as tabled by the School Committee and is scheduled for vote on May 6.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DEI advisory moves to pursue accessibility audit and building walk-throughs; parents to raise issues at CELAC

DEI committee weighs wording, video and rollout for district equity vision

Committee reviews March PD feedback; district plans summer equity-leader workshops and asynchronous training

North Kingstown schools face roughly $602,000 shortfall as health, transport costs rise

DEI advisory approves minutes and adjourns; survey item tabled for School Committee