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Home My WebLink About2017-10-13-LHRC-minu5 MOq 1775 N��c p x p Town of Lexington K «v nw i m z Lexington Human Rights Committee U APRIL79" l FXINC, Sean D. Osborne, Chair lraaanarna,% yirU:cmU.e ndaramrar ar:: Mary Anton, Vice Chair Tanya Gisolfi, Clerk Lexington Human Rights Committee, October 13, 2017 Meeting Minutes Final The regular monthly meeting of the Lexington Human Rights Committee (LHRC) was held on October 13, 2017 at the Lexington Community Center. Present at the meeting were: Members: Mary Anton, Ed.D., Lieutenant Jim Barry, Bonnie Brodner, Tanya Gisolfi, FuangYing Huang, and Sean Osborne • Liaisons: Kathleen Lenihan (School Committee) and Doug Lucente (Board of Selectmen). • Guests: Mabel Amar, Deborah Burger, Todd Burger, Catherine Rielly, Tony Rodriguez, Valerie Overton, Philip Doyle, and Mona Roy. Late to the Meeting: Jeffrey Toronto, Bhumip Khasnabish Meeting called to order at 8:06 am. Quorum was present. MINUTES Members were asked for any comments or amendments to the September 8, 2017 meeting minutes, a reading of the minutes was dispensed with, time was allotted to review minutes for comment. No amendment was noted. Whereupon the motion was made by Mary Anton and seconded, it was: RESOLVED: to approve the minutes for the September 8, 2017 meeting, as drafted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS It was noted that the yearly terms of the Committee's Officers (Sean Osborne, Chair; Bhumip Khasnabish, Vice Chair; and FuangYing Huang, Clerk) expired and the committee must elect new officers. Whereupon the motion was made by Bonnie Brodner and seconded, it was: RESOLVED: to elect Mr. Osborne to serve as Chair and Ms. Gisolfi to serve as Clerk. Mr. Khasnabish was nominated to continue to serve as Vice Chair. Concern was expressed that he is unable to attend meetings regularly. Whereupon the motion was made by Lt. Barry, seconded, and approved to nominate Dr. Anton to serve as Vice Chair. Members voted on the nominees. it was: RESOLVED: to elect Dr. Anton to serve as Vice Chair. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 LPS STUDENT DISCIPLINE SURVEY An update was provided on the status of a survey being undertaken by the LHRC and the Commission on Disability. It was explained that the purpose of the survey is to obtain feedback about Lexington Public School (LPS) discipline from parents of LPS Black and Disabled students, because Lexington -specific data demonstrate disparities in suspension rates in these populations. The task force is refining the survey questions. Mr. Osborne is scheduled to review the questions with LPS Superintendent Dr. Mary Czajkowski and her senior staff in November. LPS counsel is expected to review the questions as well. The intent is that the survey will be administered in February 2018. An LHRC member asked if it is possible for students as well as parents to be surveyed. Mr. Osborne answered that he is uncertain and recommended directing questions and ideas to Ms. Roy, who is also member of the survey task force. A LexPride member observed that the Commonwealth does not collect discipline data about LGBTQIA+ students, making any disparities invisible; she explained that national data do demonstrate suspension rate disparities comparable to those experienced by Black and Disabled students and asked whether this survey could collect information about LGBTQIA+ students as well. The reply was that this is not possible because Lexington -specific data do not exist to document local disparities for this population. LIAISONS AND ADVISORY BOARD LHRC members have been assigned to serve as liaisons to certain Lexington organizations, which were chosen and assigned at the last meeting. Liaisons will begin meeting with these organizations in October, though a Commission on Disability meeting was held the day prior and was attended by its LHRC liaison. The goal of these liaisons is to strengthen the communication between the LHRC and the town's committees and organizations. It was noted that a first Advisory Board meeting will take place on October 18, 2017 at the Lexington Community Center. Mr. Osborne and Ms. Huang will attend as LHRC representatives. HOUSING DISCRIMINATION The LHRC has been charged with responding to complaints of housing discrimination. The Lexington Police Department (LPD) is sponsoring training for LPD and LHRC members, in groups of 20: How to Respond to Housing Discrimination Training, presented by the Massachusetts Committee Against Discrimination (MCAD). The first such training will take place on November 1, 2017. All LPD members and LHRC members may be trained; space permitting, community members may also be trained. Ms. Amar volunteered to participate. PEOPLE POWER People Power asked to speak to the LHRC about the possibility of the Committee (1) asking the Board of Selectman, LPD, Town Council, and Town Manager to sign a stronger resolution about Lexington being a welcoming, safe, and inclusive community; and (2) hosting a Community Conversation on Immigration similar to previous and planned Conversations on Race. People Power representatives described concerns about increases in racism and the vulnerability of immigrants (especially undocumented immigrants) as reasons for these 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 requests. They noted that 14 other communities in the Commonwealth have already passed resolutions similar to the one they are proposing. LHRC members asked if the resolution would make Lexington a "sanctuary town." People Power representatives explained that they would like Lexington to become a "Level Two Sanctuary Town", which means being available to support "Level One Sanctuary Towns", which provide 24-hour physical sanctuary, food, and other assistance to immigrants in need. The LHRC asked People Power to revise the proposed resolution and review the updated document with Police Chief Mark Corr. The contact person for People Power is Catherine Rielly (, ,Irii, ,ll,11y irub!@, Iha, rd.oir ). Any additional LHRC comments on this topic should be directed to Lt. Barry. CONVERSATION ON RACE The annual MLK Day of Service Conversation on Race will take place on January 15, 2018 at Grace Chapel. Ms. Gisolfi and Ms. Roy volunteered to be small group moderators. REPORTS AND UPDATES School: The Lexington Public School System has begun working with HSGE on the RIDES initiative (Reimagining Integration for Diverse and Equitable Schools) as a District. Lexington has identified equity leadership (working with the senior leaders of the district) around deepening understanding, supporting principals and central office staff around the process of developing training for staff, putting into place consistent processes, and potentially looking at some of the data that indicates inequities. Town Manager's Office Update: Nothing to report. Police Update: A report of graffiti at a local school was mentioned, it might be old because it was in a location that is not readily noticed; it is being investigated. School Committee: The School Committee is establishing a search committee to recruit and interview candidates for the position of LPS superintendent, which will become available on July 1, 2018 after the retirement of Dr. Czajkowski. The search committee will include two School Committee members, two town employees, and two LPS parents. Board of Selectmen: Town Meeting starts work on October 16, 2017; the Town expects an override debt exclusion vote to occur on December 4, 2017. INCIDENTS OR REPORTS A complaint is being investigated in which a local business reportedly refused to serve two people because of their race/ethnicity. ADJOURNMENT There being no further issues to come before the LHRC, upon a motion made by Sean Osborne and seconded, it was unanimously: RESOLVED: to adjourn. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 Adjourned at 10:00 am. Next meeting: Friday, November 3, 2017 at 8:00 am. I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the foregoing minutes are accurate and complete. Tanya Gisolfi, Clerk 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420