Democratic School Board Nominees Condemn Systemic Racism and Affirming Commitment to Educational Equity for All Students, Families and Staff

Newsletter

Here is a newsletter I created to assist parents with navigating back to school digitally. CCSDPost3Newsletter.pdf

Voter Guide for Post 3 Cobb School Board

Qualifying 2020

Pebblebrook parents, school council asking for police presence after hours

The safety of our students, staff and community is our #1 priority. 

Excerpt in MDJ about Board Member Comments Removed from Agenda

Excerpt from MDJ

Leroy “Tre” Hutchins, who plans to run for a seat on school board, was in the audience Thursday and said he was discouraged by what he saw. Hutchins, who plans to run as a Democrat, said the decision didn’t frighten him for the future of the board, but the tone of the more than 90 minutes of discussion did.

“It doesn’t scare me off, but I won’t tolerate that,” Hutchins said. “I’ve never seen so many people that I respect on that board be so condescending to another human being. It was demoralizing.”

The board members aren’t going to agree on every topic of conversation, he said, but debates like Thursday take away from the most important issues at hand.

Hutchins noted that graduation rates, showing Cobb County’s continued improvement had just come out and were largely ignored by the board. Superintendent Chris Ragsdale also decided to move a report from district staff, titled “Literacy Update II” to the following meeting agenda in respect of time.

Hutchins also added that Democrat board member David Morgan, whose seat on the board he is aiming for, handled the discussion with the most grace. Morgan suggested multiple times at the meeting that board members try to compromise, advising the proposal be delayed to allow for a policy to be crafted.

Leroy Tre’ Hutchins Candidate for Cobb School Board (Cobb Courier)

Should the CCSD have a Chief Equity Officer?

I was asked recently, if I thought there is a need for a Chief Equity Officer and my response is this...

There is a need for an Equity Department with a cabinet level, Chief Equity Officer. This Officer should work hand in hand with our Compliance Department. The Equity Department and Chief Officer would be charged with ensuring, as a District, there are equitable education opportunities for all students. This is done by developing and implementing an Equity Plan. Said plan would identify areas where growth and development is needed.

I don’t need actual reports of incidents to come to this conclusion. Our District data currently suggest we are in need of this additional support... This isn’t to say, there aren’t any reports of racism... I personally witnessed several affidavits being compiled by students at South Cobb High School whom experienced the trauma of racism by a former teacher and Administrator, a few years back.

Generally speaking; most people equate Equity to just race or racism, however, the conversation around Equity is so much bigger than just racism. Equity allows us an opportunity to provide adequate resources around smaller student groups within our schools system such as students with exceptionalities (special needs), our English Language Learners or even our Economically Disadvantaged students. These are all subgroups recognized by the College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI).

Based on the tone of this article, there’s a perception that creating an Equity Department is equivalent to acknowledging we have a pervasive problem District wide related to racism. This ideology is so short sighted. It’s time to move past reactive management and be more proactive.

Having an Equity Department allows us an opportunity to have resources readily available to address issues as they arise. This allows us an opportunity to support our educators with professional development which will build their capacity around cultural competency, disproportionality and disparities. This is how we continue to support all students with the mindset of One Team, One Goal of Student Success.

Cobb Resident Announces Run for School Board (AJC)

Leroy Tre' Hutchins announces run for School Board

Announcement of Candidacy (Cobb County Courier)

Cobb County Courier: Leroy Tre Hutchins Announce Candidacy to Cobb School Board

Announcement of Candidacy (Marietta Daily Journal)

Marietta Daily Journal: Leroy Tre Hutchins Announce Candidacy to Cobb School Board