Mirroring the actions of other central Indiana school districts and government agencies, Franklin schools is now working with a diversity and inclusion consultant to determine how its schools can create a more equitable environment.
The Franklin school board approved an agreement between the schools and Virtuoso Education Consulting, LLC, an Indianapolis-based organization. The study of Franklin schools will be conducted by Dr. Renae Azziz, who will go over the district’s practices and policies and provide professional development, said Robin Betts, spokesperson for Franklin schools.
Azziz has experience working with the Indiana Department of Education and nearby school districts, such as Westfield Washington schools, said David Clendening, superintendent.
“Dr. Azziz did consulting for the (department of education),” Clendening said. “She was hosting a book study in the first semester and I talked to another school district that used her in a similar capacity: Westfield Washington. I think, in talking to Dr. Azziz and (her) doing the book study, she’s very thorough. She has the same desire as the school system to provide the best learning environment for every kid. Diversity and inclusion, equity for all kids — that attached well with what we believed.”
Franklin schools will pay Virtuoso Education Consulting $44,825 for Azziz’s assistance, which will include organizing leadership development, reviewing the district’s policies and practices, conducting professional development that will center around culture and implicit bias and organizing focus groups to look at Franklin schools’ opportunities to improve when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion, according to school documents.
The agreement started earlier this month but has no specific end date.
“Ultimately, we’re not going to rush,” Clendening said.
The move comes after Franklin schools formed a diversity and inclusion committee in June, focused on discussing ways to increase equity in the school district. Nearby Clark-Pleasant schools also created a diversity, equity and inclusion committee, and Gov. Eric Holcomb named the state’s first chief equity, inclusion and opportunity officer in November.
The events of 2020, which included global protests and a nationwide dialogue about racial injustice surrounding the deaths of Black Americans Breonna Taylor and George Floyd at the hands of police, have no doubt played a part in accelerating efforts to create a more equitable and just society, Clendening said.
“With the events going on in the nation, I think if you look back over history, we can do better for everybody and, as the leader in the district, I’m looking at creating a better future for everybody,” he said.
The findings of the diversity consultant may help build that better future for students at Franklin schools, Clendening said.
“Everyone’s saying, ‘OK, our kids deserve a better future,’” he said. “You need a champion, someone in the school district. We just want to provide a good learning environment for everybody. That’s why we’re doing it.”
