The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District stands united in support of all students, families and staff members. We are committed to providing a safe, caring, inclusive, equitable and challenging learning environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and to building a community that recognizes diversity as one of our greatest strengths.
We fully embrace our rich, diverse community as expressed through race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, natural origin, immigration status, language background, language proficiency and family structure.
We will continuously search for new ways to improve the enriched learning environment at our schools, eliminate racism, eradicate disproportionality and build equity for all students.
Definitions
Diversity
Diversity means the condition of being different or having differences, including, but not limited to, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, socioeconomic class, religion, and ability, and other human differences. Embracing these diversities and moving beyond tolerance and celebration to inclusivity and respect will help the District reach our goal of creating a community that ensures that each and every voice is heard and valued.
Equity
Equity is not giving all students the same experience; it is about giving each student what they need to meet their potential and have full access to the opportunities that make up a Jamesville-DeWitt education. Our commitment to equity will help guide how we create and implement our policies and practices. This means developing our capacity to be inclusive and responsive to our students.
Inclusion
Inclusive education is based on the principles of acceptance and inclusion of all students. Students see themselves reflected in their curriculum, their physical surroundings and the broader environment, in which diversity is honored and all individuals are respected.
District Equity Council
The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District established the Jamesville-DeWitt District Equity Council (J-D DEC) to identify areas where the school district could make progress toward a more equitable school experience and workplace and to offer solutions and strategies for accelerating progress.
It includes several stakeholder groups, including family and community members, teachers, students, staff and administrators, dedicated to understanding, identifying, addressing and eliminating the biases, barriers and disparities that limit a student’s school experience.
Council members understand that students thrive in an environment free from discrimination and harassment and that their learning environments must promote respect and diversity in order to ensure student success. The J-D DEC members also recognize that employees thrive in such an environment.
The council will:
- Offer insight and support around the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals, mission and beliefs and equity policy;
- Serve as advisors, providing input as the district makes key decisions around the tasks outlined in its strategic plan;
- Learn about district equity initiatives first-hand from district students and staff;
- Bring forth concerns so that the district can work with the larger J-D community to seek solutions; and
- Periodically analyze district data for disproportionate student outcomes and experiences.
For more information about the J-D District Equity Council, contact Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Equity Nate Franz at 315-445-8300 or nfranz@jd.cnyric.org.
Equity Council Membership and Selection Process
A group made up of teachers, board members, an administrator, and parent blindly reviewed interest forms for knowledge and contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in Jamesville-DeWitt.
Twenty five community members representing all schools and the following stakeholder groups were chosen:
- Students
- Teachers
- Building and District Administrators
- Caregivers/Parents
- Community Members
2023-24 District Equity Council Meetings
schedule pending
2021-22 District Equity Council Members
- Chris Faricy: Caregiver, Jamesville Elementary School, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Adanna Harper: Caregiver, Jamesville Elementary School, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Dana Corcoran: Caregiver, Jamesville Elementary School, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Tracey Menapace: Staff, Jamesville Elementary School, Moses-DeWitt Elementary School, Tecumseh Elementary School, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Nana Winwah: Student, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Andréa Butler: Student, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Charles Clinton: Staff and caregiver, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Paul Gasparini: Staff, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Katie Clinton: Caregiver, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Jorge Gonzalez: Student, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Cindy Heaslip: Staff, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Stephanie Phillips: Caregiver, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Jim True-Frost: Caregiver, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Rachel Wagner-Gilchrist: Caregiver, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Fehmi Damkaci: Caregiver, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Darris Williams: Caregiver, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Victor Okereke: Caregiver, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Rev. Dr. H. Bernard Alex: Caregiver, Moses-DeWitt Elementary School
- Emily Dressing: Caregiver, Moses-DeWitt Elementary School
- Christiana Semabia: Caregiver, Moses-DeWitt Elementary School
- Milena Crosley: Caregiver, Moses-DeWitt Elementary School, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Ruth Arena: Caregiver, Moses-DeWitt Elementary School, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, Jamesville-DeWitt High School
- Jackieleen Verdejo: Caregiver, Tecumseh Elementary School
- Nicole Adams: Caregiver, Tecumseh Elementary School, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Andrea Jacobs: Caregiver, Tecumseh Elementary School, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
District Equity Council Statements
- At the Jan. 9, 2023, J-D Board of Education meeting, a statement from the Jamesville-DeWitt District Equity Council was read regarding safety and security.
- At the Feb. 7, 2022, a statement from the Jamesville-DeWitt District Equity Council regarding a racist incident during a Zoom meeting was read at the J-D Board of Education meeting.