March 24, 2023 PM SNOW ROUTE

Mount Pleasant School District No. 29-93

152 Marble Road   Washougal, Washington 98671

(360)835-3371

www.mtpleasantschool.org

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January 19, 2023

Mt. Pleasant School Families:

I started working with Mt. Pleasant Board Members and staff in August of 2022.  Since that time I have been able to meet all of our students and most of you.  Mt. Pleasant is a wonderful place to work and to learn.  The small school environment is supportive and attentive to our students’ needs.  The staff are working hard to make learning joyful.

The small school environment here is amazing.  Class sizes are optimal for learning and building a positive community.  The teachers work together to constantly reflect on their instruction and on our students' progress.  We have a new Reading and Writing Curriculum this year and we are enjoying the engaging literature that students are interacting with.

I am on a part time contract but do my best to be here often to see the learning and help celebrate the successes and guide improvements as well.  I check email daily and if I am not on site our office staff can reach me quickly.

Now for a few updates.

• COVID Protocol— The state of Washington is no longer requiring our employees and Volunteers to be fully vaccinated.  If you are interested in volunteering at Mt. Pleasant we would love to have your help.  All volunteers must complete paperwork complete a background check form.  Please ask the office for more information.

• Treats—As always our health department is suggesting that only store-bought treats be brought into the school.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet most of our Mt. Pleasant parents. I am hoping to meet more of you throughout the year.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.  My email address is cathay.lehmann@mtpleasantschool.org.

Sincerely,

Cathy Lehmann

Superintendent / Principal

Mt. Pleasant School

Mt. Pleasant School District Equity Plan: INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES

Mt. Pleasant School District is deeply engaged in work around equity, race and identity to better foster and support an environment in which our students, families, and staff grow, thrive, and succeed. This work, and the language used to describe it, is rapidly evolving. This procedure will be reviewed at least annually by the administration staff and the School Board to reflect current practices and language.

Institutional practices are those actions taken by an institution (a school, a department, the school district) that intentionally or unintentionally advantage or disadvantage certain groups.  In working to become an anti-racist institution we must actively work to develop and implement practices that are equitable. We must also actively work to dismantle current practices that end with inequitable or discriminatory results.

Objective:  By using an Equity Lens Mt. Pleasant School District aims to reduce inequities within the institution, including disproportionality in student outcomes.  This Lens is intended to help implement the vision outlined in the district’s equity policy and the strategic plan, which is our equity plan. This Lens will also develop a common vocabulary and protocol for developing and evaluating policies, programs, practices, and decisions to result in more equitable outcomes.

Recognizing that applying the Equity Lens might look different at the school, department, or district level, the Equity Lens should be considered in decisions such as staffing; budgeting; initiating, developing, or ending programs or procedures/processes; developing design specifications; allocating resources and opportunities; and purchase or implementation of instructional materials.

We acknowledge that the use of the equity lens can result in different decisions depending on the data set used and the people involved in the decision making.  While reasonable people can disagree, decisions do need to be made and the lens should not be used to paralyze administrative action.  To truly apply an equity lens to our work it is important that decision makers be involved in the broader community to ensure an understanding of our students, families and staff.

Process:  When using the Equity Lens, consider the following questions and consider the impacts on historically marginalized groups and communities:

1.    Who are the groups affected by this policy, program, practice, or decision?  What are the potential impacts on these groups?

2.    Does this policy, program, practice, or decision have unintended consequences, such as ignoring or worsening existing disparities?

3.    How have we intentionally involved stakeholders who are also members of the communities impacted by this policy, program, practice, or decision?  Can the stakeholders validate your assessments in questions 1 and 2?

4.    What are the barriers to a more equitable implementation of your policy, program, practice, or decision?  (Consider mandates, politics, emotions, finances, or programs.)

5.    How will you mitigate any negative impacts and address any barriers that you have identified?

In addition to using the Equity Lens, we will:

●     Implement a proactive strategy to recruit, employ, support, retain, and continuously develop a workforce of racially and culturally competent administrative, instructional, and support staff that increases the diversity and inclusiveness of the Mt. Pleasant School District work environment and reflects the Highline Promise.

●     Distribute resources in a way that considers equity in a student-centered mindset to eliminate or significantly reduce systemic, measurable inequities in achievement.

●     Continuously and comprehensively review disaggregated district-, school-, and student-level data to identify areas of disproportionality and identify strategies to eliminate achievement gaps.

●     Assure that all students have access to the same rigorous, culturally relevant, standards-based materials and instruction while ensuring the creative use of culturally relevant supplemental materials that engage our community of diverse learners.

●     Incorporate student voice as a critical part of decision-making.

●     Implement and monitor culturally responsive, anti-racist and gender affirming practices throughout the district and in each school. This can be accomplished through the development of equity teams and the creation of norms and protocols to support these conversations.

●     Foster a work environment that provides a safe environment for staff of color that includes accountability of professional and respectful behaviors.

●     Hold each other accountable for our individual and collective responsibility to intervene when they see instances of inequity, racism, and institutional bias.

Accountability:

At least annually the Superintendent will issue a report updating each area of work, including progress made and areas for improvement, as well as areas that will be changing for the upcoming year.  The report should include both qualitative and quantitative data and may result in recommendations to change policies, procedures, or practices throughout the district.

Mt. Pleasant School District

Adopted By the Mount Pleasant School Board May 2021

Equity Analysis Tool
Academic and Student Well Being Recovery Plan