The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part IV of V

By: Todd Bartley

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

In what can only be characterized as a race to finish first in local wokeness; the following is the first in a series dedicated to uncovering the deliberations which occurred within the Williamsport Area School District school board members and administration in the days leading up to the release of the “Anti-Racism Resolution.”

The exclusive information contained in these reports was garnered through the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law from the Williamsport Area School District by TalkWilliamsport.com.

From the unredacted information obtained by Talkwilliamsport.com; WASD board member Jennifer Lake first broached the topic with fellow board members and WASD Superintendent Timothy Bowers on June 11, 2020.

What follows are the deliberations in chronological order and the parties noted in their own words.

Editor’s Note: “Greg” is Greg Hayes, Director of Public Relations/WASD Education Foundation

Monday, June 22, 2020 11:01 AM, Timothy Bowers <tbowers@wasd.org> wrote:

“Good Morning,

“I have attached PSBA’s resolution. I think it is well written. My thought is to send it to the full board today and suggest that someone make the recommendation to adopt from the floor tomorrow night and send back to PSBA. The other option would be to just place it on the addendum. The other option would be to just place it on the addendum. What are you thoughts?

Tim”

June 22, 2020 11:15 AM

From: Jane Penman <jpenman@lockhaven.edu> wrote:

To: Timothy Bowers

Cc: Lori Baer, Jane Penman

Subject: Re: PSBA Resolution on anti-racist school climate

“What do you mean by “and send it back to PSBA.”

Sent form my iPhone

June 22, 2020 2:14 PM, Timothy Bowers <tbowers@wasd.org> wrote:

“Attached is the PSBA recommended resolution regarding antiracism in schools. I believe it is well written. My plan is to include this resolution in tomorrow’s addendum. My suggestion would be for one of our board members to read the resolution in our public meeting and then authorize me to send the signed document back to PSBA. PSBA appreciates districts sharing the signed resolutions with them so they know how many districts have approved their resolutions. If you have any questions or concerns let me know.”

Attachments: <Anti-Racism Board Resolution.pdf> <Anti-Racism Board Resolution.docx>

June 22, 2020 4:06 PM

From: Barbara Reeves (REDACTED)

To: Timothy Bowers

Cc: Fred Holland, (WASD Solicitor); Star Poole; Timothy Bowers (WASD Superintendent); Jane Penman; Marc Schefsky; Jennifer Lake; Susan A. Neidig; Board Member; Barbara Reeves; Lori Baer; Adam Welteroth; Wanda Erb; Nancy Somers; Patrick Dixon; Susie Bigger

Subject: PSBA Resolution

“Hello. Thanks.”

________________________________

Monday, June 22, 2020 5:20 PM

Nancy Somers sends a text message to Jennifer Lake and an unidentified female WASD school board member:

“Your thoughts on the resolution?” (Editor’s Note: this question was “Liked” by an unidentified participant)

“I think Jenn should be the one to read it since she did the pre-emptive strike on the topic.”

The unidentified female WASD school board member responds:

“That would be appropriate.”

June 22, 2020 6:03 PM, Jennifer Lake (REDACTED) emails the entire group:

From: Jenn L. Lake

To: Timothy Bowers

Subject: PSBA Resolution

“I will volunteer to read this publicly if nobody else already has.”

Jennifer Lake, PCC

(REDACTED)

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Within the established timeline of events the undated and untimed texts are believed to be exchanged prior to the meeting on June 23, 2020.

The text messages continue:

Jennifer Lake then responds:

“Haven’t had a chance to look at it but will now.

Just read it.

I hate the “WHEREAS” because I fell like it feels cold and impersonal.

However, I appreciate the strong language in this statement and I would agree to publish it.

What do you guys think?”

The unidentified female WASD school board member responds:

“I understand. That’s just the language of the resolution to make it sound official. (smiley face emoji)

But I do appreciate the language as well.”

Jennifer Lake then “Loved” the comment.

Nancy Somers then replies:

“Agreed”

“Better than I expected”

Jennifer Lake then “Likes” the comment.

Jennifer Lake then poses the following question:

“You ladies joining in for executive session?”

“Getting ready to start”

The unidentified female WASD school board member responds:

“I’m on”

Somers:

“We are both here”

Lake:

“Oops!!! I didn’t move my screen over. I see you now (heart emoji)”

________________________________

Williamsport Area School District Board of School Directors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

From the meeting minutes of that evening:

The Regular Meeting of the Board of School Directors of the Williamsport Area School District of which all members were duly notified and of which due public notice was given as required by Act 84 of 1986, was held on Tuesday evening, June 23, 2020, beginning at 6:03 PM.

President Baer welcomed everyone to our virtual meeting. President Baer noted the following:
1) The meeting is being recorded.
2) The microphones are all muted.
3) Board members will need to unmute their microphones to speak.
4) Under the Open Forum section of the meeting, anyone wishing to address the
Board will need to use the raise hand feature to have their microphone unmuted.
5) Board members making and seconding motions will need to state their name for the record.
6) All votes will be roll call.

Wanda Erb announced that all Board members except, Ms. Star Poole were in attendance.

PRESENT: Lori A. Baer, Patrick A. Dixon, Jennifer Lake, Jane L. Penman, Star Poole (arrived 6:10 PM), Barbara D. Reeves, Marc Schefsky, Nancy Somers, Adam C. Welteroth.

ABSENT: None

President Baer announced that an executive session was held prior to tonight’s meeting for personnel and attorney advisement.

OPENING EXERCISES – Dr. Penman provided opening exercises.

BOARD PRESIDENT’S REPORT CONT’D: – Ms. Lori A. Baer

D. Mrs. Lake read a resolution supporting the development of an anti-racist school climate by the Board of Directors of the Williamsport Area School District.
Resolution supporting the development of an anti-racist school climate by the Board of Directors of the Williamsport Area School District

The resolution is contained below in its entirety from a previous story.

The meeting moved along with the PERSONNEL REPORT, 8.1 RESIGNATIONS
Accept the following resignation(s), effective on the dates and for the purposes indicated:

D. Gregory L. Hayes, Jr., full-time Executive Director of the Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation and Public Relations for the District, for other employment, effective July 17, 2020.

Contained in the SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT offered by Timothy S. Bowers, Ed.D., Dr. Bowers thanked Greg Hayes for his work in the district both as our Executive Director of the education foundation and our Public Relations Director. He wished him well in his new position and future endeavors.

During the ITEMS FROM PUBLIC portion of the meeting; it is believed a pre-determined speaker was invited by Jennifer Lake to address the Resolution.

This connection will be further further illustrated in “The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part V.”

Within the meeting minutes:
Tyra Crews, a district resident residing on Watson Street, Williamsport, addressed the Board asking several questions regarding the Anti-Racist School Climate Resolution and how it will be communicated, implemented, and measured. She suggested that perhaps a task force could be established. Dr. Bowers asked Mrs. Crews to contact his office to set up a meeting to discuss her ideas.

Why is the fact Mrs. Crews is WASD employee omitted from the meeting minutes?

Upon motion made by Dr. Penman, seconded by Mrs. Reeves, and carried the meeting adjourned at 6:49 PM.

________________________________

Almost immediately after the meeting; the congratulations come raining in for Jennifer Lake and the unanimous passage of the Resolution.

June 22, 2020 7:03 PM

From: Nancy Somers

To: Jenn L. Lake

Subject: PSBA Resolution

“Thank you Jenn.”

________________________________

From the TalkWilliamsport.com OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone on June 24, 2020

WASD School Board Adopts Anti-Racist Resolution

On June 23, 2020, in light of recent national events, the Williamsport Area School Board adopted the following anti-racist resolution:

WHEREAS, we are deeply saddened and outraged by the recent killing of George Floyd and violence against black men and women. The subsequent protests have shined a spotlight on the harmful effects of racism and inequality.

Furthermore, the public response has highlighted the racial trauma that our black students, families, staff, and communities have not only endured for centuries but continue to face today.

WHEREAS, we must recognize that racism and hate have no place in our schools and society.

However, we must understand that racism is systemic, and it is unconsciously and consciously rooted into our institutions, policies, and practices.

Consequently, we acknowledge that we must look at our own school policies and practices through an anti-racist and equity lens to address traces of racism and inequity that still exist within our own school community.

WHEREAS, we must center the voices of staff, students, families, and communities who have historically endured discrimination and marginalization.

Their lived experiences and stories require attention, require respect, require empathy, and most importantly require action.

Therefore, it is essential that we establish an expectation that a diversity of students, families, and community members, specifically those that have been ignored, discriminated against, and marginalized, are heard and included on substantive school and district issues.

WHEREAS, we must better educate ourselves and seek to educate the community on the historical and current impact of racism and discrimination on our students, families, and communities, as well as understand our role in perpetuating such inequity.

Through continuous professional development and opportunities for honest dialogue and listening sessions, we hope to build partnerships in the community focused on overcoming racism and other barriers.

By doing so, we can create opportunities to ensure that each child has the tools and supports needed to thrive.

WHEREAS, we must advocate to advance civil rights and cultivate an anti-racist school climate necessary to meet the needs of ALL students in our care.

Our students, no matter their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language ability, disability, and other identities, deserve to feel safe, to feel seen, and to feel affirmed.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Williamsport Area School Board, unequivocally stand firm in our collective responsibility to foster an equitable and inclusive environment for every student, staff member, parent, and community member.

We commit to use our role as school board directors to recognize, respond, and speak out against injustice and racial inequity in our school community.

The Resolution is signed by WASD school board president Lori Baer and board Secretary Wanda Erb.

As noted in the June 24, 2020 meeting minutes: “Dr. Bowers will send a copy of the approved Anti-Racist School Climate Resolution to PSBA.”

FULL STOP.

If a board member is not serving in their first term; could an argument be made that anyone in a second, third or longer term is actually contributing to the underlying issues noted in the Resolution?

Is it fair to say, after 400 years of history on this topic to rely upon, the recent epiphany is a little late?

Is it fair to say, it seems opportunistic?

During the Williamsport Area School District board meeting on Tuesday evening, board member Jennifer Lake played a leading role reading an anti-racism resolution into the record prior to its unanimous approval.

So how in good conscience can Jennifer Lake bring forward a resolution addressing a situation that occurred in Minneapolis while failing to address a tragic situation in her own backyard?

The indisputable timeline of insanity regarding the Myrtle Beach incident compared to the anti-racism Resolution unanimously approved last night defies logic.

WASD concludes investigation of Myrtle Beach incident June 5, 2018.
19 months later – WASD issues Statement on handling of Myrtle Beach incident January 9, 2020.
George Floyd who has never been a student in the WASD is killed in Minnesota on May 25, 2020.
Less than 30 days later – WASD school board approves Anti-racism Resolution June 23, 2020
The anti-racism Resolution is based on national events including the death of George Floyd.

So Jennifer Lake and her fellow WASD board members had a faster public response to the death of George Floyd than a “criminal sexual misconduct” incident involving students in the district.

How could I forget, child privacy laws prevented the WASD from making a statement – for 19 months!

Back to present day, what if the entire WASD Anti-racism Resolution was in fact politically motivated?

This would fly in the face of the assertion Jennifer Lake made in her initial email on June 11, 2020 when she said:

“This isn’t political.

This isn’t in support of or against Black Lives Matter.

This is about our student population and doing our part to respond to the hurt.”

Did you mean to say, “the hurt”, the “criminal sexual misconduct” victims endured during the 2018 WAHS Baseball team trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and still suffer to this day?

Did you mean to say, “the hurt”, of having justice denied to date in that case and the indignity of not even being recognized as “victims” by the self-aggrandizing, high, mighty and proud WASD school board and WASD administration?

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part V is forthcoming, with photographic evidence.

Previous article links:

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part I

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part II

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part III

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part IV