Education Standing Committee of the RTM Special Meeting Agenda (PDF)

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
AGENDA
EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE RTM
Special Meeting
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
7:00 P.M. - Waterford Town Hall
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1. Call to Order
A
2. Pledge of Allegiance a
3. Roll Call “
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4. Public Comment
5. Consider and act upon the minutes of the December 1, 2020 meeting.
6. Consideration of and possible action on item referred to committee:
A. Social Justice. (RTC 10-05-20)
7. Adjournment

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordctorg
MINUTES "3
EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE RTM wo
SPECIAL MEETING 2
Tuesday, December 1, 2020 Roos
7:00 P.M. - Waterford Town Hall 38
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The December 1, 2020 Special Meeting of the Education Standing Committee of the RTM was
called to order by Chairperson Danielle Steward-Gelinas at 7:02 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Greg Attanasio, Valerie Metivier, Sally Ritchie, Michael Rocchetti, Danielle
Steward-Gelinas.
Absent: None
Also Attending: Town Clerk David Campo, Superintendent of Schools Thomas Giard,
First Selectman Robert Brule.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Resident Mary Childs relayed her gratitude to the committee for taking on the subject of
social justice,
AGENDA ITEM 5: Minutes
MOTION by Ritchie, seconded by Metivier, to approve the minutes from the November
10, 2020 meeting,
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
MOTION by Rocchetti, seconded by Attanasio, to move Item 6-B ahead of Item 6-A.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
AGENDA ITEM.6 - B: Social Justice (RTC 10-05-20)
PRESENTATION: Superintendent of Schools Thomas Giard and First Selectman Robert
Brule spoke at length and answered question in regard to the Town’s stance and process
for developing education, a mission and a direction for the Town in regard to social
justice.

AGENDA ITEM 6 — A: Restoration/Use of the Nevin’s Cottage (RTC 08-06-18)
A brief discussion ensued.
MOTION by Ritchie, seconded by Attanasio, to recommend reporting “Restoration/Use
of Nevins’s Cottage” out of committee because the process has moved to the Planning
Director who will address it through her proposed budget.
A full recording of the meeting can be obtained by contacting the Town Clerk.
Respectfully submitted,
Danielle Steward-Gelinas
Chairman

1/18/2021
We ask that the following be read into the public record:
To the Waterford RTM Education Standing Committee,
We are writing to thank you for the conversation held during your December 1, 2020 meeting. It
addressed some of the concerns we raised in the letter we sent to you in September (please see
attachment). During your meeting, we were pleased to hear Superintendent Giard clearly
describe the initial steps taken by the school district and the long-range goals it has adopted.
Additionally, First Selectman Brule shared what steps he is considering based on what
Superintendent Giard and the BOE develop. Those presentations and the conversation that
followed were important first steps in identifying actions the RTM can take to educate its
members and review town policies and practices.
Considering the requests made in September, we again ask that the Education Standing
Committee not only hear what other Waterford officials and agencies are doing, but also consider
what steps the entire RTM needs to take. We maintain that, as elected representatives of the
people of Waterford, it is the RTM’s responsibility to ensure that all boards, committees, and
employees are equitable and knowledgeable. As the town’s governing body, your actions can
have a far-reaching impact on increasing equitable practices, rewriting and developing policies
that support our increasingly diverse community, and preventing racially biased actions by town
employees and officials. We can do better in providing living, working and learning
opportunities for everyone in our town.
We ask the Education Standing Committee to assure that all town employees, elected officials
and members of town boards and commissions receive initial and updated training around
diversity, equity and inclusion. This training must not be a one-time event but an ongoing and
embedded part of the organizational culture that's grounded in the specific needs of our
community.
There is no question that discussions of justice and inclusivity are often as difficult as they are
important. However, we are expecting that our elected representatives will rise to this challenge
and create a space for our community to discuss these vital issues.
Waterford Members of Niantic Community Church,
Paul Helvig, contact person at plhelvig@sbcglobal.net or 860-447-9657, District 2
Linda Helvig, District 2
Jane Milardo, District 3
Mike Guarini, District 3
Jerry Holmberg, District 2
Margaret Holmberg, District 2
Sue Smith, District 4
Mary Childs, District 2
Ocean Pellett, District 4
Juanita Durham, District 1