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Board reviews DEI structure; proposes partnerships with MCIU and UPenn Catalyst
Summary
Mr. Cole outlined a multi-tier DEI plan for 2024–25 featuring an MCIU‑facilitated DEI council, student groups (MCIU Dreaming Forward; Voice for Education) and a UPenn Catalyst partnership for professional development and student projects; the district would gain access to Penn’s membership survey and Qualtrics analysis as part of the proposal.
Mr. Cole presented a district DEI structure he characterized as a three‑tier approach: an external DEI Council of community stakeholders to be facilitated by the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) over the next 12–18 months; student engagement groups such as MCIU’s Dreaming Forward and Voice for Education to build advocacy and belonging; and a UPenn Catalyst agreement to provide professional development, networking with other districts and student service projects that would be implemented locally.
Cole said the MCIU‑facilitated council would be charged with informing an educational equity policy and working in tandem with the district’s policy committee. He described the UPenn Catalyst opportunity as a hybrid program with some in‑person activity on Penn’s campus and some virtual work; benefits the district would receive include access to Penn’s psychological sense of school membership survey, a Penn Qualtrics account and a facilitated data-analysis session with a Penn graduate student. Cole said the core student group is small (about five or six) but actively recruiting and that Penn indicated there is no formal cap on participants.
Board members asked about attendance at DEI council meetings, outreach plans, parental notification and opt‑out procedures for student lessons delivered to younger grades. Cole said parents are notified for counseling-style lessons (the process would follow existing policies) and that the agreements provide opportunities for both external facilitation and staff-supported student leadership. He also noted a professional-development price point in discussion, distinguishing a $2,000 figure associated with group support and separate Penn professional learning fees that are priced per participant.
The transcript records presentation and discussion of the two agreements (MCIU facilitation and UPenn Catalyst membership) and anticipated staff follow-up; no formal approval or vote on the agreements is recorded in the transcript.
