Presentation to CU meeting on April 8, 2004 by Dr. Neyland Clark, Superintendent, South Harrison School Corporation, and Dr. Phil Partenheimer, Superintendent, Lanesville Community Schools and report from Monty Schneider, Superintendent, North Harrison Community School Corporation, all three public school systems in Harrison County, Indiana
(Report from Monty Schneider, who was unable to attend the CU meeting follows at the end.)
Fun fact: What percentage of Harrison County students are minority members? (See answer at end.)
Both Dr. Neyland Clark and Dr. Phil Partenheimer described how less than 1% of their student body is minority (often biracial). They said that this homogenous setting may heighten the importance of having minority professionals in the local school system. Dr. Clark asked how do our students react when they go on to a very diverse setting, such as at IU Bloomington? And Dr. Partenheimer added that our students will graduate and go out for jobs in a diverse culture. Both agreed that Harrison County students are missing out on important prior experience with minority professionals.
Both superintendents described how they have had a good local response to getting minority teachers in their schools through substitute teachers (from Kelly Services) in South Harrison and an Ivy Tech speech teacher at Lanesville. Dr. Clark also said they have a licensed ESL teacher from Mexico. But recruitment of full-time minority teachers here vs. other school systems is difficult because of the dearth of minority social contacts here, the local salary scale compared to what minority professionals can get in other places and other professions, the lack of job openings here, which usually go to former student teachers, and the hiring procedure here that goes through the principals and the board, as compared to the immediate offers with bonuses (e.g. $3,000 signing bonus with Houston, TX) that large systems can make at recruitment fairs.
Dr. Clark talked about the issue of helping all students respect each other. He also said that their school system has been working with Maxine Brown and Linda Ray to help students dialog and discuss sensitivity to others who have differences. He added that kids are often better than adults at accepting differences. Both superintendents talked about the importance of celebrating the Martin Luther King holiday, Black History Month and Cinco de Mayo. Dr. Clark urged CU members to talk to school principals and Linda Ray if they hear of any problems experienced by minority students and added, "If you ignore it, you condone it."
When asked what CU members could do to help on minority recruitment, Dr. Clark suggested working with the Chamber of Commerce or Ministerial Association to have an informal talk or reception for candidates and provide them with community attachments. He also urged CU to work with Maxine Brown on her diversity programs in the schools. CU members suggested working with the Indiana Department of Minority Education and developing an all-staff minority recruitment plan.
Report from Monty Schneider, who was unable to attend the CU meeting
Mr. Schneider related that North Harrison currently does not have a plan actively and intentionally to recruit minority individuals for filling professional positions. There have been a few African-American teachers apply for a position at North Harrison in the past, but those individuals chose not to pursue the position upon finding that North Harrison is a rural school system. Usually it is known applicants that get priority consideration, such as teachers who have done their student teaching at North Harrison or those who have worked for North Harrison in another capacity before becoming a teacher or those from the local community.
Most years, North Harrison does not have very many positions that become available to bring in new staff. Often the positions that do become available will also have some added requirements such as next year North Harrison needs to hire a high school math teacher who will also need to be the head football coach.
Mr. Schneider feels that it would be a great benefit to the North Harrison student population to have minority teachers as part of the staff. It would better prepare our students for life to have the opportunity to know and work with teachers who also happen to be a member of a minority group. It would broaden the students' experience as far as minorities and better prepare them for their adult life.
Fun fact answer: Less than 1%.
(Report from Monty Schneider, who was unable to attend the CU meeting follows at the end.)
Fun fact: What percentage of Harrison County students are minority members? (See answer at end.)
Both Dr. Neyland Clark and Dr. Phil Partenheimer described how less than 1% of their student body is minority (often biracial). They said that this homogenous setting may heighten the importance of having minority professionals in the local school system. Dr. Clark asked how do our students react when they go on to a very diverse setting, such as at IU Bloomington? And Dr. Partenheimer added that our students will graduate and go out for jobs in a diverse culture. Both agreed that Harrison County students are missing out on important prior experience with minority professionals.
Both superintendents described how they have had a good local response to getting minority teachers in their schools through substitute teachers (from Kelly Services) in South Harrison and an Ivy Tech speech teacher at Lanesville. Dr. Clark also said they have a licensed ESL teacher from Mexico. But recruitment of full-time minority teachers here vs. other school systems is difficult because of the dearth of minority social contacts here, the local salary scale compared to what minority professionals can get in other places and other professions, the lack of job openings here, which usually go to former student teachers, and the hiring procedure here that goes through the principals and the board, as compared to the immediate offers with bonuses (e.g. $3,000 signing bonus with Houston, TX) that large systems can make at recruitment fairs.
Dr. Clark talked about the issue of helping all students respect each other. He also said that their school system has been working with Maxine Brown and Linda Ray to help students dialog and discuss sensitivity to others who have differences. He added that kids are often better than adults at accepting differences. Both superintendents talked about the importance of celebrating the Martin Luther King holiday, Black History Month and Cinco de Mayo. Dr. Clark urged CU members to talk to school principals and Linda Ray if they hear of any problems experienced by minority students and added, "If you ignore it, you condone it."
When asked what CU members could do to help on minority recruitment, Dr. Clark suggested working with the Chamber of Commerce or Ministerial Association to have an informal talk or reception for candidates and provide them with community attachments. He also urged CU to work with Maxine Brown on her diversity programs in the schools. CU members suggested working with the Indiana Department of Minority Education and developing an all-staff minority recruitment plan.
Report from Monty Schneider, who was unable to attend the CU meeting
Mr. Schneider related that North Harrison currently does not have a plan actively and intentionally to recruit minority individuals for filling professional positions. There have been a few African-American teachers apply for a position at North Harrison in the past, but those individuals chose not to pursue the position upon finding that North Harrison is a rural school system. Usually it is known applicants that get priority consideration, such as teachers who have done their student teaching at North Harrison or those who have worked for North Harrison in another capacity before becoming a teacher or those from the local community.
Most years, North Harrison does not have very many positions that become available to bring in new staff. Often the positions that do become available will also have some added requirements such as next year North Harrison needs to hire a high school math teacher who will also need to be the head football coach.
Mr. Schneider feels that it would be a great benefit to the North Harrison student population to have minority teachers as part of the staff. It would better prepare our students for life to have the opportunity to know and work with teachers who also happen to be a member of a minority group. It would broaden the students' experience as far as minorities and better prepare them for their adult life.
Fun fact answer: Less than 1%.