Park Hill to host forums for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging council

A newly-formed council at the Park Hill School District is planning for two public open houses next month. 

At the Thursday, Jan. 18 Board of Education meeting, board members heard an update on the district’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Council will host a community update and conversation in partnership with Sophic Solutions, a Kansas City-based consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity and inclusion training.

The two online community forums will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 and 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26 via Zoom. 

Park Hill School District parents/guardians, staff and community members are welcome to join the partners for these conversations, district officials said. In the online forums, staff will start with a presentation to all participants, overviewing the work the DEIB Council and DEIB Action Teams have accomplished since the 2023 community forums. District officials will also share how the 2023 work completed aligns with the 2023-2028 Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP). 

After the large group presentation, officials will move into small groups where participants will have an opportunity to engage in dialogue about the work that is being done and provide input regarding how they would like to see this work carried out within the specific school(s) they are associated with.

Also at the meeting, the board was updated on filings for the April school board election. Candidates are incumbent Brandy Woodley, Harrison Todd and Sadie Peterson. Lea Satterfield filed for the election but has withdrawn her filing. Board member Kimberlee Ried did not file for re-election.