Yolanda Dennis, the district’s executive director for equity and related functions, and Maria DeMello, the district’s DEI community specialist, briefed the committee on diversity, equity and inclusion work and compliance measures at the Jan. 8 meeting.

“At GNBBT, the DEI advisory council is committed to a school community that promotes power, voice, and agency through listening and learning to foster and support a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment,” Dennis said, reading the council’s declaration.

The DEI report covered three main areas:

- Compliance and Title IX: The office reviewed and updated policies and procedures, including the employee handbook, co-op education handbook and Title IX grievance procedures. A student-designed, laminated 11x17 Title IX poster with a QR code has been posted in every bathroom to direct students to Title IX information and reporting channels. Dennis said district Title IX education is part of preparation in case federal reviews occur.

- DEI programming and supports: The DEI advisory council has nine faculty/staff members and developed district-level definitions for diversity, equity and inclusion. Multicultural Day 2025 planning is underway in partnership with student council, and the DEI office said it will likely spread activities across multiple days in April. Staff presented culturally responsive teaching sessions as part of November PD.

- Community outreach and family supports: Maria DeMello described a resource fair in October that hosted seven community partners (MassHire, Beyond Housing, United Way Family Resource and Development Center, Upward Bound, New Bedford Art, New Bedford Parks & Recreation and others). The DEI office said it has assisted about 20 families with community referrals and distributed supplies via an in-school closet; DeMello also serves as the point of contact for family surveys and referrals.

Dennis said the office also added a vendor/signature requirement for co-op partners confirming awareness of sexual-harassment policies. She noted that, in her three years with the district, most incident reports have been teachable interactions rather than large-scale assaults; she described restorative conversations and follow-up as the typical response.

The presentation also noted statewide collaboration: Dennis and the district host a meeting of the Association of Massachusetts School Equity Leaders (AMSEL) on April 11, and Swansea Public Schools has sought guidance from the district on DEI council development.

Committee members praised the work and said the DEI office’s outreach and compliance work has become a visible part of school operations. The superintendent and other leaders framed the DEI work as part of a multi-year effort to add compliance and human-resources capacity to the district.

Provenance: DEI presentation and Q&A are recorded in the transcript beginning with the DEI introduction and continuing through committee comments and superintendent remarks.