Superintendent’s Message

Diversity in the North Shore School Community

 “The North Shore Schools uphold the moral principle of respecting human dignity. Our schools foster our most basic intellectual mission, to help young people think and express themselves intelligently through a respectful and searching exchange of ideas. We are dedicated to creating a school community, which is a safe haven for all of our members, a place where differences and similarities are respected and celebrated.”

Dear Parents and Community Members,
As part of our 2008-09 District Goals, we remain committed to our statement of mission in the area of “Diversity in the North Shore School Community” - universal respect and understanding for individuals and groups. We live in a nation which is becoming increasingly diverse. We believe that our differences as well as our similarities are valuable; recognizing, understanding and celebrating both our interconnectedness and our differences adds depth and value to our communal lives, and gives us insight into each other and ourselves.

We seek to provide opportunities for all members of the North Shore Schools community to increase their understanding of other perspectives and beliefs as well as to negotiate and mediate among them. These capacities imply give and take, reciprocity, and flexibility of mind and attitude. Additionally, learning to resolve our differences and conflicts in caring and peaceful ways helps us become more empowered as individuals.

One of the primary goals of our schools will be to educate students to value diversity through instruction and example. We recognize that the most important instruction is often in the lessons each teacher weaves into the regular curriculum or through natural conversations our teachers regularly have with their students (i.e., the questions, propositions, values set forth for students every day). Students are likely to value diversity more as a result of direct human interaction than as a result of a formal “diversity curriculum” on its importance.

To help successfully implement our goal, a North Shore Schools Diversity Task Force has been established including parents, administrators, faculty, students and members of the community. At recent meetings, six work groups have been established to draft policy and practice recommendations for consideration by the Board of Education. The work groups include: Defining Diversity, Development and Implementation of Diversity Training for the Faculty & Staff, Execution of the Diversity Statement, Student Services and Support, Special Projects (Exchanges, Programs Courses and Events), and Community Outreach. I urge you to become involved in this important process so your voice can be heard.

Creating a school community that is a safe haven for all of its members is a goal we all share. Both students and adults in our community can be empowered by embracing our similarities and differences and learning how to better resolve our conflicts. I wish you a happy and peaceful holiday season and a wonderful year ahead.  

Sincerely yours, 
Ed Melnick
Superintendent of Schools