To the Editor:
I am writing to the Guilderland Central School District community.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the Guilderland Central School District Board of Education will be starting its third year of work in September 2022.  It is time to begin recruiting new members to the committee to replace those who have chosen to serve a single term. We are seeking two students, three parents, one staff member, and two community members to fill eight openings.

The purpose of the DEI Committee is to provide direction, support, and oversight for the school district’s work to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive through its policies, practices, and programs.

Since its inception, the 20-member committee has begun to fulfill its role by creating four working subcommittees (audit, research, community engagement, and communication); has welcomed a new Director of DEI, Mr. Matt Pinchinat; has expanded its presence on the district website; and has engaged in professional learning by reading timely articles and books, including “Five Practices for Equity-Focused School Leadership.”

There is still a great deal of work to be done! A major project for the upcoming year will be the completion of an equity audit to help the district identify areas of improvement, establish priorities and goals, metrics to measure progress, and more.

If you are interested in serving on this committee, please send a letter of interest to Dr. Marie Wiles, Superintendent of Schools, 8 School Road, Post Office Box 18, Guilderland Center, NY 12085 or email by Friday, April 29, 2022.

Your letter should include a statement of the reason(s) you would like to serve and highlight some of your experiences that demonstrate why you would be a strong contributor to this work.  Your letter should also indicate your area of interest in serving on one of the committee’s four subcommittees, mentioned above. Please visit the DEI page on the district website for more information on the DEI Committee and its subcommittees.

The Guilderland Board of Education will review the letters of interest and appoint new members to begin on July 1, 2022 for a two-year commitment. We are excited to continue this critical work and look forward to working with members of our school community to make the Guilderland Central School District a place where everyone feels safe and valued. We look forward to hearing from you.

Marie Wiles, Ph.D


Superintendent

Guilderland Central

School District