| Subject: important: help needed & meeting minutes |
| From: "Reis, Beth" <Beth.Reis@kingcounty.gov> |
| Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 16:47:24 -0700 |
| To: IMPORTANTNEWS@safeschoolscoalition.org |
Dear Safe Schools Coalition Members and Friends:
See HELP NEEDED messages in red.
(1) June 2010 minutes (apologies for how belated they are)
(2) August 2010 minutes
Ordinarily, this listserv avoids attachments. Meeting minutes are one of the rare exceptions. PDF of each is attached.
<<Minutes June 2010.pdf>> <<Minutes Aug 2010.pdf>>
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(1) June 2010 minutes (apologies for how belated they are)
Minutes 6-15-10, 3-5 p.m. PDT
Safe Schools Coalition Meeting
Facilitating: Beth Reis; Recording: Frank Couch
Present in person: Betsy Wells, Marilyn Hoppe, Blair Beadnell and Diane Morrison – all from University of Washington School of Social Work; Beth Reis – Public Health – Seattle & King County and Co-Chair of SSC; Frank Couch – Science And Management of Addictions (SAMA) and Co-Secretary of SSC; Heather Carter – Youth Suicide Prevention Program (YSPP) and Co-Secretary of SSC; Kyle Rapiñan – University of Washington Q Center and Co-Chair of SSC; Mo Lewis – King County Sexual Assault Resource Center; Penny Palmer – Intervention Chair and Co-Secretary of SSC; Liezl T. Rebugio – ACLU of Washington; Joseph Luther – individual; Davis Sharon – individual
Present by Phone: Gabi Clayton – PFLAG Olympia, Families United Against Hate, Youth Guardian Services and SSC Web Spinner
INTROS … welcome new faces/voices
Thank you for your hard work as co-secretary, Matt!
(2) FRANK COUCH IS STEPPING UP AS CO-SECRETARY
Frank Couch, who works for the Science and Management of Addiction Foundation, has agreed to join the Leadership Team and serve as co-Secretary. He continues to serve as an Intervention Specialist, as well. Thank you, Frank.
(3) REPORT ON THE Q-VOICES PROJECT – Betsy, Blair, Diane, Marilyn
Elizabeth “Betsy” Wells, Ph.D., Research Professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work and a team from UW presented their findings from the “Q-Voices project.” The Q Voices project was an anonymous online survey exploring the needs of LGBTQ youth in the United States ages 14-19. For more about their vitally important findings, contact Betsy: bwells@u.washington.edu
(4) LAW & POLICY WORK GROUP REPORT – Beth for Jennifer and Lonnie
a) Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 3026 gave the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) authority to monitor and enforce school districts’ compliance with state and federal civil rights laws. OSPI is now engaged in drafting rules. The SSC Law & Policy Work Group has given input to OSPI by attending and generating attendance at town hall meetings around the state and by sending written feedback (which we will attach to the meeting minutes).
b) Substitute House Bill 2801 directed OSPI, WSSDA, and the Office of the Education Ombudsman (OEO) to revise and update the current WSSDA model policy on Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying by August 1, 2010. Members of the Work Group will be attending a stakeholders’ meeting at WSSDA tomorrow to give input. We are considering proposing that the state use Seattle’s policy http://www.seattleschools.org/area/policies/d/D49.00.pdf and, especially, procedure http://www.seattleschools.org/area/policies/d/D49.01.pdf as a starting point, in lieu of the old state models (http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/pubdocs/3207.pdf and http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/pubdocs/3207P.pdf).
c) Work Group members will be meeting this week and next with several legislators regarding these rules and model policies (in 4a and b above) and about their 2011 legislative agendas.
d) Equal Rights Washington created “Safe Schools Don’t Discriminate” stickers for the town hall meetings. Thank you.
e) We discussed SSC’s possible 2011 legislative agendas. We noted that the economy is not expected to have recovered before this legislative session; we will be in a deficit mode. We delayed actual decisions until the July meeting. Proposals we discussed:
Possible Safe Schools Coalition Legislative Priorities for 2011
Legislation to enhance prevention of bullying in schools and to improve districts‘ responsiveness when bullying does occur, including that which is bias-based (based on the bully’s perception of the targeted individual’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation [defined as including gender identity], or mental, physical, or sensory handicap).
This could include, for example, legislation to enhance the capability of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the Governor’s Office of the Education Ombudsman to provide on-going, face-to-face and online training for all school employees throughout the state regarding law and policy, empathy and social skills, bullying intervention & restorative justice skills, and appreciation for diverse members of the human community. _____
1 It could also include legislation to require education of students to increase their knowledge of law and policy, empathy and social skills, bullying intervention & restorative justice skills, and appreciation for diverse members of the human community. _____
Legislation to track districts’(buildings’?) efforts and possibly reward their progress in reducing bullying as measured by the Healthy Youth Survey and/or the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. _____
1 Legislation somehow triggering OSPI oversight early in the process of severe harassment situations, rather than only when a targeted student’s family seeks OSPI’s help. _____
2 Legislation requiring that a student and their family be notified before their abuser returns to school and otherwise strengthening the school’s ability to protect victims when no-contact orders are in place. _____
3 Legislation – which Rep. Liias is especially interested in -- to create a statewide bullying reduction work group. _____
4 Legislation – which we said we would table until 2012 so we could study the idea – like Massachusetts’ – to ensure that bullying self-defense would be included in I.E.P.s of vulnerable students (see the last section of this: http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/news10/0604bullying.html) … but I did hear the concern that the victim isn’t the one who most needs education. _____
5 Legislation to increase adults’ accountability, such as that on page 70 of this document: http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OCR/archives/pdf/AppA.pdf where it says “If the harassment complaint official concludes that the policy has been violated by a professional educator or administrator, a report of the findings shall be filed with the Licensing Office of the Vermont Department of Education.” _____
6 Legislation that would allow others (who? For what kinds of violations?) besides superintendents to file complaints about school employees with the OSPI Professional Practices Section, so that they can investigate instances of staff bullying or intimidating students. _____
7 Legislation to set up IEP-like work groups for the on-going safety management of the needs of harassed students (though the concern was expressed about further stigmatizing these kids)
f) Thank you for many meetings and much hard work to Jennifer Allen, Lonnie Johns-Brown, Pam Crone, Josh Friedes, Linda Mangel, and Beth Reis. And to the organizations they represent: Planned Parenthood, Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, National Organization for Women, Legal Voice, and Washington State Coalition against Domestic Violence, Equal Rights Washington, ACLU-Washington, and Public Health – Seattle & King County.
(5) PRIDE PLANNING – Beth
a) Joseph Luther agreed to do the Costco run.
b) To join the contingent (ride in or walk with the bus, hand out goodies to the crowd, wave and rock the bus) contact Lisa Love mailto:LLove@seattleschools.org so we’ll know what kind of space we have and how much food and drink to have on hand. Elders and families and people with disabilities are encouraged to ride. GSAs and SSC member orgs are encouraged to walk/ride.
We decided to switch to a Google phone line for our message phone by July 1, with a message to callers explaining that the line is not confidential and that crisis and confidential callers should hang up and dial 1-877-SAFE-SAFE [1-877-723-3723]. The Phone line will be unstaffed, there will be a message line and the system will transfer to message line.
(7) FISCAL REPORT – Beth
a) HELP NEEDED: A volunteer has agreed to organize the web part of an online auction for the Coalition. We need 3 volunteers, anywhere in the world, to work with her on obtaining auction items and publicizing it. Interested? Contact: Michelle … mailto:michelle@safeschoolscoalition.org the auction is set up but will not start until we have auction items. We need help obtaining items for auction.
b) Donors since last months’ meeting include these wonderful individuals and families:
c) Please donate right now, online: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/donate.html !!!!
(8) WEB SITE(S) REPORT – Gabi
We got 2,381,849 hits in 2009 from 346,281 visitors in 173 countries, for example:
(9) MEMBERSHIP REPORT – Gabi
a) New member applications this month: NONE
b) Recent renewals (thank you!):
GLOBE, c/o Everett/Snohomish PFLAG
1 Families United Against Hate
2 Youth Guardian Services
c) Beth and Gabi indicated that Jeff should be given a big thanks for helping with obtaining contributions for SSC. If your organization has not renewed for 2010, please do. Go to http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/members_join-renew.html
(1) INTERVENTION TEAM REPORT – Penny
a) Nine calls came in from the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center line (1-877-SAFE-SAFE [1-877-723-3723]) in May. They were dispatched to Safe Schools Coalition volunteer Intervention Specialists.
b) We sent information and an intervention notebook to a new safe schools coalition in Michigan. We will work together at the end of the summer to help set up their intervention services.
c) A student with Gender Identity Disorder is moving into large public school in this area. She requested help in dealing with administration and possible trainings for the staff.
d) Daughters of two mom household have been continually hearing anti-gay comments at school. Mothers wanted to create better school climate and need assistance with information.
e) 16 yr old girl has been bullied for last three years after coming out as gay. We provided support and problem-solved and made the offer of working directly with the school.
f) Request for information from SSC and possible volunteer. She had gotten help for her son from SSC in the past. He is doing well now. She has become a strong advocate and even started a non-profit advocate group.
g) 14 yr. old girl in California had pants pulled off by group of kids. School only willing to suspend one girl. Daughter fearful of retaliation. We problem-solved with the parent and made referrals.
h) A parent is forming a group to assess and address an administrations failure to adequately clarify their policies on bullying. The group has begun an inquiry to find out what those policies are. They are asking for information regarding our role in the Mt. Si problem and future help with strategies if needed. We will be of help in ways that don’t violate previous callers’ confidentiality.
i) A child was being bullied at a private school. We had a meeting with the administration and agreed to several ways to assure his safety.
(2) SPEAKERS BUREAU REPORT – Briana
Speakers Bureau Manager Report
6/15/10
Speakers Bureau & Training Team
Date: Location: Trainers: Audience Total:
5/26 North Thurston High School Tim McLeod 22
5/27 Healthy Schools Summit Briana and Beth 9
Outreach
Date: Location: Tablers:
5/19 Inter GSA Meeting Lisa Love
5/19 Uniting Communities House Party Briana
5/27 Youth Networking /KTUB Emily Juhre
Upcoming: Seattle PRIDE! 6/26-6/27
Mid Columbia Pride 7/18
AFSC Panels
Date: Location:
5/19 Inter GSA Panel
5/28 Healthy Schools Summit
6/3 Orca Race Forum
Upcoming: Roosevelt High 6/16
KCLS 6/24
SOARS 6/25
(12) LISTSERV REPORT – Beth
a) Welcome to new subscribers from:
à Burien, WA
1 Tempe, AZ
2 Seattle, WA (7)
3 Washington, DC (2)
b) Jason Hungerford, who manages our listservs through his company Blue Argo, is ill and taking some time off from his work. Our thoughts go out to Jason and his partner.” Joseph Luther said he would be willing to take on News and Kyle will think about Jobs
c) We will eventually launch separate listservs for news, events, etc. and ask everyone to resubscribe. That is on hold as Jason focuses on his health.
Marcos Martinez of Entre Hermanos and Beth met to discuss collaborations on how we can, together, better serve LGBTQ and gender expansive Latino/a youth and Latina/o children with LGBT parents and guardians.
(14) SERVING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Welcoming Schools Project & HRC grantwriters are in conversation with a number of Pacific NW foundations to try to fund a staff person and trainers, to provide assistance to schools all over the state, possibly housed at OSPI in partnership with Safe Schools Coalition.
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(2) August 2010 minutes
Safe Schools Coalition Meeting
Minutes 8-17-10, 2-4 p.m. PDT
Facilitating: Heather Murphy; Recording: Penny Palmer
Attending: Beth Reis, Public Health – Seattle & King County, and SSC Co-Chair; Briana Herman-Brand, SSC Speakers Bureau; Frank Couch, Science And Management of Addictions (SAMA) and SSC Co-Sec & Intervention Specialist; Heather Murphy, PhD, Shoreline School District and SSC Co-chair, Penny Palmer, SSC Co-Sec & Intervention Coordinator; and Brittany Cohen, Christina Tolley, and Amy Leang, all of the University of Washington School of Public Health (interning at Public Health – Seattle & King County)
Call in: Gabi Clayton, PFLAG Olympia, Families United Against Hate, Youth Guardian Services and SSC Web Spinner
(1) LAW & POLICY WORK GROUP REPORT – Beth for Jennifer and Lonnie
a) FEDERAL: The National Association of School Psychologists is supporting Safe Schools legislation. More info on that and their other legislative positions on their web site: http://capwiz.com/naspweb/home/ . You can also contact your legislators from this site.
b) FAMILY PARTNERSHIP – MODEL TOOLS & MEASURES – update from Sue Ferguson, Heather Carter, Rachel, Frieda. We were invited to participate in the OSPI-convened work group that is designing a tool school districts can use to assess the adequacy of their partnerships with students’ families. It was a great meeting and all present were very receptive to our concerns and suggestions. We will keep you informed when the tools are available. Watch your email.
c) HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION & BULLYING – STATE MODEL POLICY & PROCEDURE – update from Jeff, Beth. We have been participating in the WSSDA-convened work group that is drafting the new model bullying policy and procedure for Washington State. There will be further opportunity for public comment on the draft. Watch your email.
d) CIVIL RIGHTS IN SCHOOLS – STATE RULES (WACs) – update from Frieda, Linda and Gabi. We have been participating in the OSPI-convened work group that is writing the new rules for schools regarding preventing and responding to discrimination. Gabi reported that in the most recent meeting time was spent in small groups discussing a draft. One concern she raised was the challenge for transgender and gender expansive children when classes are separated by gender for sexual health education. More on the new rules will follow. Watch your email.
e) MORE 2011 DECISIONS COMING UP
At the September SSC meeting (Sept 21, 3 pm Pacific) we’ve been asked to consider supporting member orgs’ positions re: two issues:
(a) Proposed changes to the WA state rules that would allow pharmacists to deny clients Rx meds to which the pharmacist has religious objections
(b) Possible legislation to address crisis pregnancy centers’ misleading clients regarding their services and the client’s legal options
So plan to attend or let us know your opinion, so we can convey it to the group at the Sept 21st SSC meeting. Contact Beth: mailto:beth@safeschoolscoalition.org
(2) LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE’S ANNUAL AIDS WALK UPDATE – Penny
a) The walk is on September 25th. Please come join us by walking, running or donating. Life Long Aids Alliance makes a tremendous in-kind contribution to Safe Schools Coalition, donating book keeping services as our fiscal agent. Without them we would have a hard time existing so please help us show our support for this event.
b) Go to www.seattleaideswalk.org and choose to register, donate or sign in. The Safe Schools team is on the main list or you can also donate through Penny Palmer when asked for person coordinating our team. It will be fun and it is for a great cause.
(3) WEB SITE(S) REPORT – Gabi
a) We got almost 168,000 hits in July from nearly 26,000 visitors in 105 countries.
b) Jacque Larrainzar of Seattle Office for Civil Rights just provided us with a lot of new Spanish language resources which will be uploaded soon. Gabi will inform you when and exactly what is up via the listserv.
c) The federal version of the SSC Law Quiz is done. Anyone feel a need and have the time to look it over for readability before we post it to the web site? If so, contact Gabi: mailto:gabi@safeschoolscoalition.org
d) 493 people like our Facebook page (+4 since last week)
(4) MEMBERSHIP REPORT – Gabi
a) New member applications this month: NONE
b) Recent renewals (thank you!):
Equality New Mexico
c) If your organization has not renewed for 2010, please do. Go to http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/members_join-renew.html
d) Letters with renewal requests will be going out shortly
(5) INTERVENTION TEAM REPORT – Penny or Beth for Penny
a) Intervention had 4 calls in July from our dispatchers at King County Sexual
b) Assault Resource Center. None required action.
c) We have an ongoing case in Olympia. Gabi is representing SSC.
d) Snoqualmie School District – update from Briana This is still in process as we are waiting for response from the Dept. of Justice. Pride has offered the district money to hire SSC trainers to help if needed.
e) We had two people call to volunteer for the Intervention Team.
f) We had a request for information from the University of Ottawa.
(6) SPEAKERS BUREAU REPORT – Briana
a) AFSC has graciously offered to fund Briana, via SSC, through December to assist in the transition of the youth panel program to Northwest Network. So she remains at half time until then, when her hours drop to 8/week, just supporting SSC’s speakers bureau.
b) Recent training/speaking gigs; Upcoming training/speaking gigs – no speakers requested for August
c) Upcoming youth panels; Gay City and Girl Scouts/Americorps
d) Recent outreach tabling; 8/12 Snohomish Early Learning Group – Tabler, Briana
e) AFSC Panels; 8/16 Family Support Workers Panel
(7) FISCAL REPORT – Beth
a) Please help us raise much needed funds with a simple donation to our online auction. Items can be a variety of things that you may have around your house or can get someone else or a business to donate. If we each just find one item it will really help us continue to provide our services. We also need 3 volunteers, anywhere in the world, to work with her on obtaining auction items and publicizing it. Interested? Contact: Michelle … mailto:michelle@safeschoolscoalition.org
b) Donors since last months’ meeting include these wonderful individuals and families:
Pamela Jensen
c) Please donate right now, online: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/donate.html !!!!
(8) LISTSERV REPORT – Beth
a) Welcome to new subscribers from:
Tacoma, WA
1 Brighton, MA
2 Renton, WA
3 Dobbs Ferry, NY
b) We will eventually launch separate listservs for news, events, etc. and ask everyone to resubscribe. That is on hold until end of August at the earliest, as Jason focuses on his health. There will be more information on the database as to who, where etc. our members are.
(9) PREVIEW THE LATEST, HOT-HOT-OFF-THE-PRESSES TEACHING TOLERANCE FILM
a) Entitled Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case That Made History, it is the story of Jamie Nabozbny, the first gay youth ever to sue his district and individual administrators for not protecting him from years of anti-gay violence at school. He won nearly $1 million. SSC has been asked to endorse the film; we agreed to do so, enthusiastically. We will also provide a link on our website, co-host a screening at Seattle LGBT film festival if asked [ed. Note: we have been asked], and offer a quote in their promotional material. Beth suggested and we agreed to this review:
The film tells the story of Jamie Nabozny, the first gay young person ever to sue his school district for not protecting him from years of anti-gay violence at school. He won the case against the individual administrators and settled for nearly $1 million. The film humanizes Jamie through his warm, genuine explanation of his childhood. It features him, having grown into a confident man and an eloquent speaker, addressing a student body. It uses a combination of interviews and reenactment to make crystal clear what happened to Jamie at the hands of his peers and the callous responses of his schools' administrators. It shows various strategies Jamie tried in order to survive, along with the efforts of his parents and some of his teachers to act as allies. The courtroom drama segment -- based on actual transcripts -- is an amazing training tool for the continuing education of educators. Every faculty meeting across the country needs to set aside time to show Bullied. And every student body needs an assembly and small group discussions about the film and about all forms of bias-based bullying. It will change norms and offer hope to young people who have been the targets of bullying. As one of his teachers says in the film, "One brave young man ...stood up for millions of others." Jamie changed his school district and other schools all over the country. Jamie himself closes the film by saying to the camera, "If I can do that, anyone can do that."
b) For your own free copy of the film, go to: http://www.tolerance.org/bullied
c) Thank you, Southern Poverty Law Center
(10) SHARING TIME - Queer Youth Space would like to welcome and thank their two new organizers Jasmine Burr and Charisse Bersamina.
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UPCOMING MEETINGS … contact the chair if you have agenda items to suggest or if you need instructions about attending (in person) or calling in (by conference call). All are welcome - you do NOT need to be a Coalition member to attend.
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Safe Schools Coalition c/o Lifelong AIDS Alliance
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1002 E. Seneca
Seattle, WA 98122-4203
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Got a problem at school with anti-gay harassment?
In Washington State:
1-877-SAFE-SAFE (1-877-723-3723) 24 hours a day - the phone line is answered at the Sexual Assault Hotline and they will have a Safe Schools Coalition Intervention Specialist volunteer get back to you within 24 hours. Or contact us by email: Intervention: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/contact/?id=10 and we will respond within 24 hours.
For non-emergencies: 206-451-SAFE (7233).
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Website http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/contact/?id=11
Co-Chairs:
Frieda Takamura, retired from the Washington Education Association.
Beth Reis, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 206-296-4970.
Kyle Rapinan, University of Washington student.
Heather Murphy, Ph.D., school psychologist.
Stefanie Fox, community organizer.
Listserv Managers:
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