August 2019 Volume 29/ Number 8 • A Monthly Publication by Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc • www.unitenewsonline.org
UNITE.
2019 ParkDay Reunion Weekend Event Calendar Photos on Page 12
Building Empowering Connections In Our Diverse Community
ParkDay Reunion Weekend Is Here!
Equity Imperatives
Community group recommends public timeline and measurable outcomes to address Equity Disparities See calendar on page 12
Boyd Elementary school has a new principal Springfield, MO— Springfield Public Schools has selected Dr. Angela Holloway Payne to serve as the next Angela Payne principal of Boyd Elementary School, effective July 1, 2019. Continued on page 2
Springfield , MO— Community Education Coalition for Springfield Public Schools Equity presented a list of “imperatives” to the Springfield Public School District at the Bartley Ducatur Neighborhood Center on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. The group is made up of community members including parents, businesses, community leaders, and local agencies. “We are publicly and jointly demanding community leaders and the school district administrators develop a public timeline with measurable outcomes to address the goals in the Springfield Public Schools strategic plans now,” said coalition member Mark Dixon. The excepts from the document include: ...As community
Mark A Dixon at the podium along with members of the Community Education Coalition for Springfield Public Schools Equity
members, we seek to assist SPS with these urgent matters to develop, short-term, intermediate, and long-term goals for access, success and equity. Transparency is necessary and trusting relationships must be built in order to effectively educate and develop our students. Areas of concern requiring collaborative and cooperative work include: 1. Buildings, Facilities, and Contracting It is imperative that policy
language be promulgated and/ revised to create equitable opportunities for local businesses that include subcontracting and consulting opportunities within the district. This would help dollars stay local and for local businesses to have an equitable opportunity to bid for the work. We are speaking about consulting, procurement, design, construction and other contractual services. 2. SPS Workforce Recruitment, Continued on page 2