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Lack of Staff Diversity in the BCSD

1/11/2016

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The following is the statement from Mr. James Bugg to the Superintendent and the Board Members of the BCSD.  Although most Board Members did not attend Monday's meeting to hear the statement, we are posting Mr. Bugg's statement here and thank him for his advocacy.
Good evening.  My name is James Bugg and I am a resident of the City of
Beacon.

Madam Chair, and Board members, I have now come before this Board for 
over four (4) years, each time seeking to discuss with you the issue of staff 
diversity and its impact on the education of all BCSD students, and 
additionally, to engage you in finding a way for us to resolve what is an 
obvious lack of staff diversity in the Beacon City School District (BCSD).  

It was in 2011 I first came before this BOE citing data from your own 
website indicating that only five (5) of two hundred sixty-six (266) 
instructional and administrative staff were minorities, in a school system 
where over fifty percent (50%) of student enrollment is minorities.
Since that time I have continuously appeared before you, sometimes 
unprofessionally or raucously, for which I now apologize, but always 
seriously willing to talk with and assist in whatever way I could to address 
this situation publicly acknowledged by this Board as a serious issue.

I have done so because I realize that students in the BCSD can go from 
kindergarten through high school having less than a five percent (5%) 
chance of seeing a minority instructor.  The significance and impact of this 
to all students, but particularly to minorities, can be life-changing!!

Students of all races and ages must be aware of diversity in a country, 
state and community that is as diverse, and ever-growing as ours.  So, I am 
compelled to ask you, “How can students in BCSD learn or experience 
diversity in a school district with so few minority instructors?”   

The other justification for my continued pursuit of greater diversity is a 
1999-2000 PEW Foundation survey, conducted in conjunction with 
Northeastern University.  In 2001 they released the results of their survey 
of one hundred twenty-three (123) public schools where minority staffing 
was within five percent (5%) of the minority enrollment.  The most 
significant findings were: 1) in those schools minorities had higher than 
average grade performance; 2) there were less behavioral incidents and 
dismissals of minorities than in other area schools; 3) they found higher 
than average attendance rates; and, 4) there were less drop-outs.  Equally 
as important, they found that there was no measurable decline in the 
performance of non-minority students.  This data portends that any school 
or school system can reap significant educational benefits from diversity.  I 
hasten to add that the exact number of minority administrators and 
instructors in BCS is unknown because you, the BOE, have consistently 
refused to share data with the public or discuss the issue.
I am certain that many of you like me, have watched and heard the 
nationwide protestations of citizens of every race, age and religion, all 
proclaiming the need for changes to ensure social and legal justice for all 
citizens.

In Beacon, the Board of Education might be the best and only institution to 
discuss and examine such a major issue.  However, it is my concern that 
this Board has appeared to be reluctant or has been considerably 
delinquent in discussing this issue in a transparent or public way.

As the leaders and policy makers for an education system, you are looked 
upon by many as responsible for enlightened leadership on this issue and 
many others.  I am also aware of the difficulties faced by you and many 
other institutions in addressing these issues.

However, Madam Chair, I hasten to remind you that in 2011 when I 
presented that startling data, it was you who said, “Yes, we have been very 
negligent in addressing this issue”.

So, I conclude by asking you, Madame Chair, “What have you and the 
board done to address this issue.  What has been done to provide the 
leadership this school system and community needs to address the vital 
issue of diversity and develop a serious, transparent and actionable plan to 
address this serious moral issue of educational and social justice.”

 If not, then all I ask is that you please convey to me, and the rest of this 
community, what has been accomplished to address this issue and if 
nothing, then the rationale for not having accomplished anything in regard 
to diversity.I ask that my remarks please be included in the minutes of this 
meeting.  Thank you.

James “Frank” Bugg
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