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The Mt. Olive School District has taken some bigger steps this school year to improve its race relations and increase equity.

The school year kicked off with a presentation to staff and faculty focusing on race and culture, followed by the formation of an Equity Task Force.  

In August 2020, Dr. Tyrone Howard, author and professor at UCLA,  addressed the full Mt. Olive faculty and staff in virtual presentation to kick off the district’s examination of the relationships between bias, race, culture and the impact it has on student's learning, development and sense of belonging.

“Dr. Howard's visit was over a year in the making having been invited to the district in June of 2019,” explains Mt. Olive Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Zywicki. He was brought in for the district’s Staff Professional Development Day, which is offered annually and funded by Title II Federal Grant Funds. This year’s presentation cost close to $6K.

Zywicki says “we wanted to kick off this year’s conversation about equity,” but in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, an innocent black man killed by a white police officer, “he was booked until August.”

Howard provided a “framework on how to have these different conversations,” explains Zywicki. The virtual presentation lasted two hours and was provided to more than 700 staff and faculty members in the Mt. Olive School District.

“I thought it was really well received,” says Zywicki. “He has a fantastic way of framing things.”

Following Dr. Howard's presentation there was a student panel discussion to talk about issues and share ideas.

The entire Mt. Olive community has also been invited to participate in a virtual book club to read and discuss Howard’s book titled “Why Race and Culture Matter in Schools.”

In the book, Howard shows how adopting greater awareness and comprehensive understanding of race and culture can improve educational outcomes. The book outlines the changing racial, ethnic and cultural demographics in U.S. schools; calls for educators to pay closer attention to how race and culture play out in school settings; presents data from schools that have improved achievement outcomes for racially and culturally diverse students; and focuses how educators can partner with parents and communities.

Zywicki says he has gotten 90 responses showing interest in the book club. The books are currently on order as there has been a delay in receiving them. Each book costs $25 and is also funded by Title II Federal Grant funds toward professional development.

As a tie into Howard’s presentation, the district has started an Equity Task Force.

Equity Task Force

Established this past summer, the task force held its kick-off meeting in mid-September.

When Zywicki first began in Mt. Olive as superintendent, he says he noticed that “there were equity gaps” within the district. He says he presented his observations to the Mt. Olive Board of Education such as the lack of world language courses to students in all grades from K-eight, as well as the lack of diversity in staff.

For a deeper dive into these concerns, an Equity Task Force has been created. More than 50 volunteers are involved, representing students, alumni, community members, educators and BOE members. Many of these volunteers “reached out” during and after Dr. Howard’s speech, says Zywicki.

Its purpose is to create an Equity Dashboard to set goals and monitor progress with five Racial Equity Focus areas which include: Racially Inclusive Curriculum, Discipline Policies, Building Relationships, Access to Higher-Order Classes, Diversifying School Staff.

Additional Equity Focus Areas include: Disabilities and Cognitive Diversity Awareness and Inclusion, LGBTQ Awareness and Inclusion, and Human Rights Education.

Under some of the focus areas are subcommittees.  

Established under Inclusive Curriculum are the subcommittees: Racial and Ethnic; Disabilities and Cognitive Diversity Awareness; LGBTQ and Gender; Religious; and Human Rights Education.

Under Building Relationships is SEL; and Climate and Culture. Under Academic Achievement is Graduation Rate; Access to Higher-Order Classes and Programs; Internal Data: MOTSD RTI Universal Screening Indicators; External Data: Standardized Assessments, Post-Secondary Placement.

Zywicki says “it’s going to take some time” for change. 

“I identified this as a real need” in 2018, he says. Changing over faculty to include a more diverse staff will take some time, for example, especially when the current faculty is a result of 10 to 20 years of hiring practices.

A Good Start

Mt. Olive BOE Member Dr. Antoine Gayles attended the first meeting of the Equity Rask Force on September 17. Gayles’ referred to the meeting as a “good start,” he says during the Sept. 21 BOE meeting.

He says there will be quarterly meetings and updates.

Every August, the Equity Task Force will provide an annual report, he says. He is “looking forward to seeing what this group can pull together to move us forward for equity for all,” says Gayles.     

Five members of Mt. Olive In Color are also participating in the Equity Task Force, according to Afreen Fahad, co-founder of Mt. Olive in Color and 2015 graduate of MOHS.

MOIC has been full-steam ahead trying to implement change in the district when it comes to improving systemic racism and equity.

"In August, MOIC had an initial meeting with the superintendent, Dr. Zywicki, and other key school officials to discuss the Dear MO letters and petition for reform submitted to the Board of Education,” explains Fahad. “During that meeting, Dr. Zywicki helped detail a plan to bring together an Equity Task Force with community stakeholders.

"The plan was to have the task force use the materials submitted in the MOIC petition, the framework created by Dr. Howard from UCLA, and the input of the task force members to create a list of actions for long-lasting change in the MOTSD,” explains Fahad. 

While the list of members on each committee is in the process of being finalized, “MOIC’s intent is to have representation and a seat at every table,” says Fahad, who is optimistic that the Equity Task Force can play an integral role toward improved relations in Mt. Olive.

“Mt. Olive in Color is eager to get to work and create lasting impacts within the MOTSD,” says Fahad. “While the Equity Task Force is still in its early stages, its intent to bring the community together by increasing representation and including stakeholders from different communities (ie. BIPOC, LGBTQIA, people with disabilities) will ultimately help create much needed change and progress in Mt. Olive. As the Equity Task Force gains traction, it has the potential to serve as a major driving force in moving MOTSD towards being a more inclusive environment for all students.”

Fahad is hopeful that the Equity Task Force will help promote change in the district.

“Policies created by the Equity Task Force will be vital in holding the school district accountable for change and will create equitable standards of achievement, discipline, and a framework for thorough staff training,” says Fahad. “Additionally, MOIC’s hope is that the Equity Task Force can aid in auditing the current curriculum and propose adjustments that shift to an anti-racist curriculum, exposing students to global views and perspectives to create respectful, future leaders,” he says.

The Equity Task Force is just one step toward change, Fahad says.

"In addition to the Equity Task Force, a tactical plan must be implemented to align its policies, teachings, and guidelines with the overall goal of creating a culture of inclusivity,” says Fahad. "The school’s community needs to mobilize to ensure that students, teachers, and staff are engaging in conversation, celebrating different cultures and participating in these lasting changes. Most importantly, this change must be tangible and noticeable by all school community members.” 

Morris County authorities are reporting a moderate increase in the rate of COVID-19 cases, consistent with a statewide uptick, citing a correlation with increased indoor gatherings prompted by cooler outdoor temperatures.

“New Jersey is seeing moderate increases in community spread of COVID-19 and the New Jersey Department of Health has indicated that it is anticipating a second wave. There has been an increase in transmission associated with gatherings, especially gatherings held indoors,” said Morris County Health Officer Carlos Perez.

As the weather turns cooler, people need to be reminded that indoor gatherings should be limited to immediate household members, he explained. Additionally, as people plan for seasonal holidays and celebrations, they should limit the number of close relatives and friends in attendance and, if possible, plan parties outdoors around a fire pit or patio heater, according to Perez.

The slight rise in county numbers was first reported at a Morris County Board of Freeholders meeting last week by Scott DiGiralomo, director of Morris County’s Department of Law and Public Safety. He said the county remains vigilant and poised to assist the community should there be any significant resurgence of the virus, which had its greatest impact on the county back in April.

The County Office of Health Management and local health departments continue to perform essential duties to prevent the spread of infections, including enhanced surveillance and contact tracing, which is the process of identifying and notifying people who may have been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19 to prevent further spread of the disease.

“It is important that persons instructed to quarantine and isolate by their local health department and/or healthcare provider do so to prevent the spread of infection,” said Perez.

Contact tracers, he said, will not ask for social security numbers, bank or credit card information, health insurance information, immigration status, or criminal history.

“They are only following up about potential exposure to COVID-19 cases, to determine if a person has symptoms and needs to self-isolate,” Perez said. “Report any calls from persons identifying themselves as contact tracers and requesting such information to your local police department.”

Health professionals emphasize that COVID-19 is preventable if individuals:

1. Wear a cloth face covering when in public (both indoors and outdoors).
2. Practice social distancing (maintain a 6-foot space between others).
3. Follow good respiratory hygiene recommendations.
4. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve, not hands.
5. Wash hands often with soap and water. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Do not touch eyes, nose, or eyes with unclean hands.
6. Get a flu shot.
7. Stay home if sick and avoid sick people.
8. If ill, call healthcare provider before going to a doctor’s office or emergency department of a hospital.

Planning to travel during the upcoming holidays?

Remember: There are 38 states/territories on a state issued travel advisory list, and the list is updated and changes regularly. Anyone leaving New Jersey to travel to a state/territory on the travel advisory list should quarantine for 14-days upon their return to the state.

More information is available at the NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/index.html

Review and follow CDC travel advisories when planning travel abroad:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

In less than two weeks, voters will get to select three candidates to fill three seats on the Mt. Olive Township School Board of Education.  

There are seven candidates vying for a three-year term on the BOE. Running for reelection are BOE Members Dr. Antoine Gayles and John Petrie, whose three-year terms expire this year. BOE member Dr. Asunta Beardsley is not seeking reelection as she is relocating outside the district.

The other candidates running in the November election include: Christopher Zeier, Richard Vanatta, Brian Schaechter, Colleen Suflay and Rhonda Cohen. Former BOE members Schaechter and Cohen are running with Suflay on the same ticket with the slogan “Schools in Motion.”  

As a public service, the Mount Olive Democrats asked the community to
suggest questions to be asked of each of the seven candidates running
for the three positions being voted on this year.

“One goal of our organization is to share information with our community regarding important issues,” explains Irene Sergonis of Budd Lake, a committee member of Mt. Olive Democrats who recently ran for Mt. Olive Twp. Council.

“We received individual responses from Dr. Antoine Gayles, John Petrie
and Christopher Zeier. Brian Schaechter, Colleen Suflay and Rhonda Cohen
responded together. Richard Vanatta did not respond.”

To learn more about these candidates and responses to some concerning questions see the link https://mountolivedemocrats.org/posts/board-of-education-candidate-responses/

With breast cancer being the most common cancer diagnosed among New Jersey women, outside of skin cancer, the Morris County Board of Freeholders has proclaimed October 2020 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, urging the public to continue a diligence that has led to some success in combating the disease.

“The American Cancer Society reports that the decades-long decline in the breast cancer death rate continues - down by about 40 percent since 1989 -  and that is attributed to early detection due to regular screening and people knowing the symptoms, as well as improved treatments,” said Freeholder Director Deborah Smith, who introduced the proclamation last week.

But breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women, outside lung cancer, and access to breast cancer screening and optimal treatments for all N.J. women remains an urgent public health issue, she added.

“The sooner it is detected, the greater chances of a full recovery,” said Smith, “so we must continue our vigilance and continue our awareness.”

The proclamation was unanimously approved by the Freeholders during a virtual public hearing.

The Morris County Board of Freeholders has proclaimed October 2020 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, urging the public to be more vigilant in light of expert reports that pandemic-driven social distancing has inadvertently closed channels of detecting abuse.

Domestic violence and child abuse have become a major concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Jersey Attorney General noted earlier this year that, while reports of abuse to police and calls to hotlines are actually down, experts and authorities contend it is only because victims have become further isolated.

“Abuse is often not reported by the victims, but by co-workers, school officials or friends and family the victims encounter outside the home,” said Freeholder Kathryn DeFillippo, the board’s human service liaison. “During times of natural disasters and national emergencies, history has indicated that domestic violence increases substantially. But during those periods, people are not interacting with co-workers, school authorities, friends and family outside the home.”

The proclamation, approved last week by the board during a virtual public meeting, was delivered to Jersey Battered Women's Service (JBWS) President and CEO Diane Williams, whose agency also oversees the Family Justice Center located at the Morris County complex in Morristown. She joined the virtual meeting, explaining the phenomenon created by the pandemic.

“Our calls just dropped, and we knew domestic violence didn’t just disappear; It went underground a little further,” said Williams, adding that JBWS responded by intensifying its outreach and community presence, and eventually connected with 210 new clients.

“We are eternally grateful for the continued support from the community, especially the freeholders, the county and all of our partners,” William added. “Thank you so much for providing this additional awareness and supporting the work that we do.”

Also attending the virtual meeting were Morris County Sheriff James Gannon and retiring Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp.