To the Editor:

I am writing to the Guilderland Central School District community to invite you to submit a letter of interest to participate on a newly created standing committee of the Guilderland Board of Education that will focus on equity and diversity in our school community.

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

The committee will also play an active role in regularly communicating progress in this work to the Guilderland community.

Membership on the committee will include representatives from all stakeholder groups including faculty and staff, students, parents, community members, as well as members of the board of education. Membership on the committee will be capped at 20.

The committee will meet for the first time in early December 2020 and then monthly at dates and times convenient for the members. Those selected to serve will do so through June of 2022. A new round of committee-member recruitment will be launched at that time.

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, Nov. 6, 2020. Your letter should include a statement of your reasons why you would like to serve, and highlight some of your experiences that demonstrate why you would be a strong contributor to this work.

We are all very excited to engage in this critical work and look forward to working with members of our school community to make Guilderland a place where everyone feels safe and valued. We look forward to hearing from you

Marie Wiles

Superintendent of Schools

Guilderland