Diversity Action Plan
A number of efforts are underway to assure that Corvallis schools are safe, welcoming and inclusive of all students and their families. The district has developed a Diversity Action Plan which is the culmination of nearly a year and a half of work done by a Diversity and Inclusion Committee to identify diversity-related challenges within our schools. The plan offers a wide range of recommendations related to staff recruitment goals, professional development, curriculum reviews, school access, parent communications and much more.
A Diversity Action Planning Advisory Council was formed in January, 2011 to guide implementation of the action plan and to help identify priority areas which district staff should address. As a result, a new bullying and harassment curriculum will be piloted as part of the instruction at every grade level in 2011-2012. This step will support strategies already being used by our schools to address bullying concerns, including such programs as the two high schools’ Impact Day in early June.
More than 100 sophomores and juniors from Corvallis and Crescent Valley high schools filled the gym at the Corvallis Boys & Girls Club to take part in the June 1 event designed to breakdown stereotypes and get students to talk openly about bullying. The two schools’ counselors organized the event after experiencing firsthand a similar event among Albany teens. They hope to plan more Impact Days in the future.
Other current initiatives include new multi-lingual signage in all schools and a continued commitment to better and more consistent translations of district/school information for families whose primary language is Spanish. The signs identifying the school office, gymnasium, cafeteria and library will be installed during the summer in all schools. Each one will include English, Spanish, Korean, Arabic and Chinese, the top five languages most frequently spoken by Corvallis students and their families.
For a comprehensive review of the initial Diversity and Inclusion study launched in the fall of 2008, click here.
For more information or to comment on the Diversity Action Plan, contact:Kevin Bogatin, kevin.bogatin@corvallis.k12.or.us
or 1555 SW 35 St., Corvallis, OR 97333
