I assume the following:

An experience cannot be represented if never experienced. While first-hand knowledge can be respected by another, it cannot be directly shared. For the experience to be represented, it must be represented by those with that experience.

An experience cannot be expressed if never heard. Those who stand with can only do so by listening to the direct experiences of those with whom they stand.

It is therefore an obligation, when it comes to race and institutional racism, and I have to say this directly:

The white people among us, us in the leadership of our local public education system, are demanded to participate in safe space conversations for the above assertions to be inserted directly into our going forward understanding of institutional inequities.

We must acknowledge this. It is because we lack the first hand experience. True agency can only be asserted if the agency is asserted by true experience. Respect this.

At Disney Magnet, our school is 48.2% Black, 20.6% are Latino/a/x/ (census: Hispanic) and only 15% white. Our institutional policies must proactively assert this. The same must be true across our schools who might face similarly.

We must be antagonists of looking the other way. We must stand against any reluctance to stand with. We must invite those whom have traditionally not been greeted.

Diversity and Equity in Local Public Education must not be Words. They must be Actions.

I have expressed my intent to the council to make an official motion in the new year to establish a diversity committee led by our parents of color and their children and with our teachers of color to provide for the next steps that would be appropriate in implementation of our shared goals.

I am looking forward.

The sun-times reports Chicago Public Schools is waiving certain residency and fair pay requirements to aid in hires as schools reopen. CPS is a Chicago district of Chicago students and should be staffed by Chicagoans.

Next. $15.00 should be a minimum wage for Chicago. What kind of message does this send to our students’ futures? “Your education is actually only worth minimum wage.” …Minimum wage with no benefits. The wages of substitutes and aids should already be increased to begin with!

This is too much against our school administrators, who are now being burdened with the task of coordinating a severely disorganized and thrown together solution to a problem they were thrown into,

This is insulting to our teachers whom are facing an institutional aversion to their detailed experience and dedication to our students, whom again, instead of receiving a greater commitment, face greater detachment,

And our parents, who trust their generations to us,

And our students, for too many reasons to list.

The protocols being adjusted are not simply check boxes on a paper.

They are there for legal protections.

They are there for moral and ethical obligations.

It is us who are invested in our city and it’s education.

And certainly Enough of us are also behind on our rent.

All CPS employees and staff, permanent or temporary, should go to a Chicagoan.

They are our schools in our neighborhoods of our students.

We act like it. From us who serve on the elected school councils to the principals we hire to administer our schools, we act with responsibility.

The district should too.

Hey other LSC members, what do you think?

>>>danielstevenkleinman@gmail.com