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Superintendent proposes folding equity meetings into advisory committee to deepen training and community involvement
Summary
At the May 13 Committee of the Whole, Superintendent Dr. Terrell Yarbrough proposed restructuring the district’s equity meetings into a Superintendent Advisory Committee to create more training opportunities and broader community involvement; principals highlighted bilingual pledges, bi-literacy nights and a focus on Sense of Belonging for next year.
At a May 13 Committee of the Whole meeting of the Harlem Consolidated School District #122 Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Terrell Yarbrough proposed rolling the district’s equity meetings into a Superintendent Advisory Committee to allow for deeper conversation, more training and greater community involvement.
Assistant Superintendent for Communications & Community Relations Dr. Jason Blume opened the equity segment by asking elementary principals to reflect on an equity initiative that impacted students and staff and an area of focus for next year. Principals described initiatives that included bilingual morning pledges, bi-literacy nights, school improvement activities, and Celebrations of the Arts nights. Dr. Blume and principals also noted efforts to work with a consultant called Devon on belief-series training and use of the “five Whys” technique.
Principals said next-year priorities will include strengthening students’ and staff’s Sense of Belonging and creating more intentional follow-up for students who feel excluded. Jake Hubert and building principals described hands-on activities and family engagement events intended to increase student belonging and bilingual supports.
Board members weighed in on structure and participation. Board member Aaron McKnight said the time spent on presentations could be reallocated to collaborative learning; Rebecca Carlson supported breaking into smaller groups for project work and bringing more stakeholders and students into the process. Superintendent Yarbrough suggested the advisory-committee model to create more authentic conversations, and Kurt Thompson emphasized the need for the board to remain informed and for a clear pathway to address concerns raised through equity work. Dr. Blume and Dr. Yarbrough discussed scheduling the equity committee on the Thursday after the Committee of the Whole and starting at 4:30 p.m. to allow more time for substantive discussion.
The committee closed the equity segment after developing themes for the coming year. The district’s next Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2026 (time TBD).
