Diversity council to meet with Bristol School District equity leaders after recent invitation

The Bristol Diversity Council reported that Superintendent Iris White invited council members to the school district’s Equity Leadership Team and that council leaders accepted the invitation to build closer ties with district staff.

"We were reached out to by Superintendent Iris White," Interim Chair Marcus Patton said, describing a recent meeting in which the equity leadership team—composed of teachers, special‑education staff, language and intervention specialists and deans—outlined areas where school and council work overlap. He said the council hopes to establish liaisons to keep regular two‑way communication with schools.

Members said the district raised several issues for the council to consider, including the apparent decline of some high‑school clubs such as Gay‑Straight Alliances and whether Black students meet criteria for certain scholarships. A committee member who attended the breakfast and the equity meeting said the superintendent’s keynote and student participation were highlights: "She did a great job talking about her background and her philosophies," the member said.

Council leaders said the equity team suggested replicating successful school events such as culture nights and community conversations and recommended teachers and administrators as resources for the council’s planned events. As a result, Superintendent Iris White and Principal Leah McCabe were invited to the council’s next meeting to present the equity leadership team’s work and answer members’ questions.

The council framed the outreach as an opportunity to expand student voice and family engagement: members argued that bringing students and parents into shared forums makes it easier to continue conversations at home and in classrooms. The council asked members to consider serving as liaisons to specific schools and to prepare questions for the district representatives when they meet.

Next steps: the council will host Iris White and Leah McCabe at the next meeting and continue developing liaison roles and coordinated programming with the district.