Inclusiveness, diversity and equity update
Sept. 22, 2020

The IDE committee met for the first time Sept. 22 with 32 members from Bellefonte Area School District’s administration, faculty, staff and school board. The two, two-and-a-half hour sessions, held in-person and virtually, helped set the foundation that will guide the group as they move forward with the district’s inclusiveness, diversity and equity plan.

Lead by Bellefonte Area Middle School Vice Principal Mike Baughman and Human Resources Director Michelle Simpson, one of the first discussions included a conversation about defining what equity means across the district, in addition to discussing the group’s vision statements, as well as its missions and goals. At a past school board meeting, Interim Superintendent Tammie Burnaford said IDE will be looked at through a broad lens that includes, but is not limited to, ethnicity, gender, race, sexual orientation, language barriers, disabilities, socioeconomic class and more.

The campaign is in line with its tentative timeline set forth by Burnaford, but vow not to rush the process. Community members and students will be part of the committee once it is established as a district.