School Board Discussion: Utah Consolidated Achievement Plan (video)

In this meeting, I had asked for the Utah Consolidated Achievement Plan (2014-15) to be taken off of the consent agenda and placed the action item agenda. I made the point that although we have noble goals when it comes to addressing “Achievement Gap Disparities” we are not following our own plan. I cited the example of the “Equity Audits” referenced in section 1.4.4. The last time the district conducted Equity Audits was in 2011. The … Continue reading

School Bus – Manufacturing Defect?

  As a member of the Salt Lake City School Board, I want to say that I am so sorry to hear about the incident that occurred on the Emerson Elementary school bus two days ago. I want to extend my apologies for the district’s reaction and inaction following the incident. I also find it hard to believe that the district spokesman says that the injuries sustained by the students “injuries are not to severe”. … Continue reading

CREATE: Associate Superintendent of Educational Equity and Diversity

3 June 2014 Hand Delivered Kristi Swett, President Salt Lake City Board of Education ℅ Salt Lake City School District 440 East 100 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1891   Re: Associate Superintendent of Educational Equity & Diversity    Dear President Swett, On behalf of the residents and students that I represent, I am submitting this letter to express my support for the Salt Lake City School District creating the new position: Associate Superintendent of … Continue reading

Clara: Salt Lake City Minority Parents Left Out of Principal Selection (Tribune)

As the Salt Lake City School District hired new principals this spring, it wrongly excluded minority parents from the process, a district board member alleges in a complaint to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. It’s an allegation district leaders have refuted, saying no policies were violated. Michael Clara, a member of the school board, sent the complaint Monday after questioning the hiring of new principals at Parkview Elementary and other west-side schools at … Continue reading