“Agree to Disagree” NOVATO ADVANCE – sent June 4, 2003

Editor:

Thank you for your thorough coverage of the Novato Unified School District diversity materials pilot program and board adoption this past June 3.

We are very grateful and proud to have been part of the dialogue. The issue of who to include in our diversity education is very important.

We thank:

  • The students who have spoken so honestly and openly;
  • The many parents, guardians and citizens who have read, viewed and discussed the diversity materials for over two years;
  • The educators who piloted the materials and presented the results very professionally for the Diversity Advisory Committee, the Curriculum Council and finally at the school board meeting;
  • The school district administration which has been providing steady guidance in diversity education for over five years;
  • The school board majority which voted for the diversity materials based on the pilot program report, showing their commitment and leadership to all students and school safety

We also wish to reiterate that our organization, United for Safe Schools Novato, is a grass- roots group of individuals, the vast majority of whom live in Novato and are parents themselves. Those who do not live in Novato, work here or serve Novato youth and families. All of our coalition members serve Novato youth and families in some way. Our only agenda is safety and inclusion for our precious children and families.
The dialogue the past two years was sometimes very painful. Emotions have run very high. We all care very deeply for our town and our youth. Some of us must agree to disagree.

Thanks to the leadership of our school board majority and the continued commitment by our educators to prevention, we know our schools will be safer and more welcoming places for all students and families.

Margaret Levine, Shelley Norris-Alvarez,
Annan Paterson
Lynne Wasley,
Susan White
United for Safe Schools Novato

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