Gateway School District takes steps to achieve equity

Gateway School Board members invited Anthony Kane Jr. to their July 26 meeting to discuss his work regarding diversity, equity and inclusion, also known as DEI.

He is director of the Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion at Duquesne University, where he earned his doctorate in educational leadership.

“Diversity is who we are,” he said. “We don’t need to do diversity work because it is already who we are as people. Inclusion is what we’re striving for. The goal is to create a space where everyone feels included.”

Kane, who has led the center for two years and has an additional seven-year history of employment at Duquesne, intends to use his years of experience studying DEI methods to help Gateway utilize its existing resources, or add needed resources, in order to accomplish equity within the district.

“I am committed to the Gateway School District and working to achieve this goal,” he said.

Jack Bova, board president, expressed his hopes that Gateway School District would be able to partner with Kane in the future to ensure that the district creates a welcoming space for each of its members.

Also at the July 26 meeting:

• Kathleen Friend was approved as principal at Ramsey Elementary School, after having served as a principal in Penn Hills School District and teacher in Woodland Hills, her alma mater.

Superintendent William Short congratulated her and said that Ramsey’s current interim principal will be moving back to Gateway High School.

• Bova announced that there is still a vacancy in the head of human resources position, and applications are being accepted.

Board member Mary Beth Cirucci then expressed her gratitude for Patricia Crump, who is leaving the position after assisting with over 20 hires.

• The list of grade six novels approved for the 2022-23 school year is being reviewed after multiple questions about their age appropriateness. During the resident comment portion of the meeting, Monroeville resident Cheryl Boise expressed her concerns.

“I’m not one for banning books or burning them,” she said. “However, there are some questions about the appropriateness for 11-year-olds.”

Boise suggested that some of the books be moved to an eighth-grade class, and assistant superintendent Guy Rossi agreed to review and discuss the list with educators.

• The board approved a change order for the Gateway Middle School renovation project, bringing the net total of changes to over $2 million. A new building audio system will be included in the renovation, with safety features that the previous system lacked.

There will also be new doors installed by Del Rey Windows Inc. in the north entrance of Gateway High School. The district will begin advertising and acquiring bids for milling, paving, sealing and lining parking lots, and other building and grounds improvements.

• Indoor bocce will be included in this year’s winter sports season at the high school. As a member of Unified Champion Schools, Gateway agrees to abide by Special Olympic Pennsylvania’s guidelines to make the sport inclusive for all students.

• Board members discussed the possible ban of cellphones and smartwatches in the high school for 2022-23. A survey will be sent out to district residents to gather public insight.

Related:

• Gateway urged to focus on diversity as 5 administrators, 1 teacher resign