Concord schools expand and promote reporting system for incidents of discrimination

By Caitlin V. Reidy — correspondent

Over the past year, the regional school district's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) initiative has introduced several new programs to promote anti-racism education.

In addition to creating integrated reporting systems for bias and hate crime incidents, the initiative educates students and staff about representation and inclusion.

The Concord Bridge spoke to Andrew Nyamekye, the district’s DEIB director, to find out more.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

The Concord Bridge: How and when was the new reporting system for incidents of discrimination introduced?

Andrew Nyamekye: Part of the rollout we're going to be doing in the fall is reaching out to the parent community. That's the only stakeholder group we haven't reached out to yet.

Regarding the implementation of the Bias Incident/Response Protocol and Reporting Form, work on that began three years ago when I was appointed Director.

Last September, I met with every department in our district and explained to them why we are doing this, why the protocol exists, what the reporting form looks like, and what legal parameters we must follow. We had a meeting with all the students at Concord Middle School. Our student leaders, myself, and the principal [Justin] Cameron met with the student body and shared the protocol for responding to bias.

We are getting ready to actually roll out all the materials. The registration form will be on an 8×11 flyer, a large flyer that will be posted in all the classrooms of every school. In the bottom left corner there will be a QR code that will take you to the registration form.

Any student, faculty member, or adult who has been the victim of bias, discrimination, or hate crimes can officially report the incident. This report goes directly to the administration. The principal, the vice principal, and I receive a copy.

Usually, the deputy head teacher investigates the case and communicates with the victims, the perpetrators and everyone who is really affected. In elementary school, things are a little different. The protocol will not have a QR code, but the teachers know exactly where to get the reporting form.

We are redesigning our school website. There will be a tab on the DEIB page specifically for reporting bias, with forms for each school. These reports will go to the headteacher.

Q: How many, if any, hate incidents were reported last school year? How did the school respond to these incidents?

A: We are still in the process of gathering the data.

In 2022-23, we conducted a two-year racial equity audit and found that 92 percent of parents feel comfortable reporting racial harassment or discrimination they experienced at their child's school to a teacher or their principal; 63 percent of teachers feel comfortable reporting racial harassment or discrimination they experienced to their principal; and 87 percent of teachers feel comfortable reporting the same incidents they experienced themselves.

Some shocking data: 60 percent of middle and high school students of color and 64 percent of white middle and high school students did not know that there was a procedure for dealing with such incidents.

Q: What training has been expanded for staff?

A: All of our support staff go through an implicit bias training program every summer. This includes food service, maintenance staff, building servers, laborers, bus drivers, tutors, aides, and administrative assistants. Anyone who is part of the support staff is strongly encouraged to participate. Last summer was our first year and we had over 100 support staff participate, which was incredible.

Q: Is there any “training” for students? Are children taught about DEIB?

A: Let me start with the high school. Every year we organize a school-wide DEIB assembly. We have a student council that includes certain students from all races, ethnicities, religions and genders, all identities. We also invite teachers and support staff who want to participate in this council.

In mid-November and early December, all ninth-graders undergo training on how to deal with implicit bias. Throughout the school year, there are various initiatives in which all ninth-graders participate, such as reparation exercises.

We have a long-standing partnership with the Celtics' organization, the Shamrock Foundation. For about six years, we have been running the Celtics Playbook Initiative, an anti-discrimination and anti-bullying training program for middle school students.

Q: What about LGBTQ+ students?

A: Absolutely. Every single identity is represented, and that's how it's intended.

We have a long-standing Spectrum Club at the high school. We just celebrated our 30th anniversary. We work with them a lot in terms of student involvement opportunities. We have the GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance); that's the middle school counterpart to Spectrum. Each of these student organizations has a faculty advisor who shares that identity, so it's authentic.

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