Barrington school committee updates advisory charges, clarifies DEI advisory role

The Barrington School Committee on Oct. 24 reviewed and approved charges for several advisory committees and clarified the role of a new DEI advisory group, emphasizing that the group will make recommendations rather than implement policy.

Members discussed charges for committees focused on hiring and retention, health and wellness, facilities, social-emotional learning (SEL) and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion). Unidentified Speaker 8, who guided the DEI-language revision, stressed the committee should be explicit that the DEI advisory body will develop review tools and recommend policy changes to the appropriate governing bodies rather than enact policy itself.

"As long as that's just a recommendation that then goes to the appropriate bodies to take action, it's totally fine," Unidentified Speaker 8 said while urging clear wording to limit the DEI advisory committee to a recommending role.

Members also talked about logistics for the advisory groups' first meetings and the need for clear charges so committees can begin their work quickly. Several members noted prior practices where advisory committees produced policy recommendations (for example, inclusion or health-and-wellness changes) that then moved through established policy processes.

After discussion, the committee moved to approve the advisory charges and later approved the consent agenda; votes were recorded in the affirmative among members present, with one member absent.

The committee directed staff to finalize and distribute the committee charges and to prepare for the advisory groups to convene before the end of the month so work can begin ahead of the new fiscal and school-year schedules.