Anti-Racism Reforms Discussed By Fairfield School Board

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield school officials are considering reforms to promote anti-racism and racial equity in the school district after hearing recommendations from current and former students.

The Board of Education met Wednesday with leaders of the Fairfield Equity Coalition, who presented a report outlining 10 broad reforms that addressed several major components of school life in Fairfield.

“These reforms and the work of anti-racism have a beneficial impact for all students,” said coalition Editorial Chair Ian Leighton, who made the presentation with President Lynnaija Brevard.

The Fairfield Equity Coalition was created by district students and alumni in June 2020. Its recommendations were informed by surveys of Fairfield teachers and students.

Among the 10 suggested reforms are:

• Prioritizing cultural and racial diversity in curricula across grade levels by amplifying perspectives and experiences of historically marginalized groups;
• Mandating anti-racism, implicit bias and restorative justice training for faculty and staff;
• Recruiting and hiring faculty and staff who are racially diverse and culturally competent;
• Shifting discipline to focus on restorative practices;
• Creating a district-wide anti-racism policy and establishing a restorative justice committee to prevent and repair harm created by discrimination and harassment.

“It is our sincere hope that we can reach mutually agreed-upon reforms,” Brevard said, adding she expected such action would extend into the coming weeks, months and years.

Board members expressed interest in the coalition’s recommendations, but also discussed barriers to implementing the suggested reforms.

“We can’t just sit down and change all the curriculum in one summer,” board member Trisha Pytko said.

Superintendent Mike Cummings agreed, and said the district would need to lay out a plan for the changes, but that text selection in English language arts classes could be a starting point.

Secretary Jessica Gerber addressed the district’s financial restrictions.

“There is always the practicality of understanding that we are under such tight strictures when it comes to the budget,” Gerber said. “So, how do we find ways to move forward with these ideas and incorporate them into what we do in our district without having to take away from somewhere else?”

Leighton said the coalition had vetted numerous free resources that could be incorporated into the curriculum.

In order to develop a structure to move forward with the reforms, the district would need to establish working groups targeting specific issues, Cummings said, adding district leadership was set to meet Thursday to discuss the next steps regarding anti-racism work in Fairfield schools.

“I think that one of the things that we have only begun to think about and understand is that when you truly adopt an anti-racism approach to the work it really is a systemic approach of change,” he said.

For more information on the coalition’s report and recommendations, visit tinyurl.com/y32tt35t.