The Historical Perspective of the Office of Equity and Achievement
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On July 19, 2001, the Federal Way School District announced the appointment of a 25-member Equity & Achievement Task Force, made up of ethnic group representatives, education officials, business and civic leaders, students, parents and others. The Task Force followed the May release of a report showing disparities in students' achievement along demographic groups. Performance of African American and Hispanic students, in particular, was disproportionate to their percentage of the population when measuring academic achievement, advanced programs enrollment, special needs programs enrollment and disciplinary action. Upon receipt of this data, the School Board authorized the appointment of Alma Dansby to head a new Office of Equity & Achievement, as well as the appointment of a community-based task force to explore these issues and develop recommendations. "We know this is not jut a school issue, but rather a community issue," said Superintendent Tom Murphy. "For this reason we have created a special Equity & Achievement Task Force to work closely with me and Ms. Dansby over the next several months." The Task Force presented their report at the November 26 School Board Meeting. |
Task Force Members Pastor Mike McIntosh - Grace Lutheran Church Pastor Wayne Townsend - Servants of Christ Church Frank Sanchez - Latino Community Alo Lautogia - Auburn Youth Services, Samoan Community Bea Sawyer-Bennett - African American Parent Helen Henderson - African American Parent Jang Singh - East Indian Community Donna Bogle - Principal, Woodmont Elementary Deb Brewer - Principal, Kilo Jr. High Frank Hanawalt, Retired Principal, Garfield High School (Seattle) Jean Borth - School Nurse, Truman H.S. Officer Mike Chi - Federal Way Police Department, Korean Community Esther Patrick - King County Juvenile Justice Kamrica Ary-Turner - Student, Decatur High School Ginny Vanderlinde - Parent, US Government Accounting Office Bill May - Parent Josie Stocks - Parent David Vinson - Teacher, Thomas Jefferson High School Karen Dickinson - FWPS Winston Bell - Family Counselor Cy-Nethia Booker Barb Burn Freda Takamura Jenny Rygel Elena Marapodi |