LACS 8th Grade Graduation, 2005

by Elizabeth Bauchner

On December 20, the Village at Ithaca and the ICSD presented to the community its First Annual Equity Report Card. It is likely that this is the first report card of its kind in the nation.

Jeff Furman, former ICSD school board member and founder of It Just Takes All of Us, a citywide advocacy organization on behalf of ICSD students, presented the findings along with Cal Walker, co-founder of the Village at Ithaca, Judith Pastel, ICSD superintendent, and Kim Fontana, Director of Staff Development and Research in the ICSD.

"The reason we put this together is because the ICSD has a stated goal of eliminating race and class as predictors of success," says Furman. "It's an evaluation tool. We want the district to be transparent, and we need to deal with the real systemic problem of poverty and racism in our community."

The report card, which the authors make clear is a work in progress, lays out sixteen data sets which, when taken as a whole, measure the current degree of equity in our schools. Data sets include the ratio of Caucasians, African-American, Latino, Native American, and Asian-Americans in terms of population, test scores, eligibility for free and reduced lunch, sports, advanced courses, and more. It also includes data on staff within the ICSD.

Some of the data was hard to come by, with researchers looking through yearbooks to find information such as who belonged to different clubs or teams at the high school.

The school district and Village at Ithaca are looking for feedback from the community on the Equity Report Card, and have included a questionnaire in the back of the report. Follow the links below to read the report card and offer feedback.

"Most of the data shows there are gaps in achievement," says Fontana, adding that it's important for community members to get involved with the schools.

Cal Walker reiterated that idea, saying, "The school district can't meet the job of education by itself—in a vacuum. The community must be involved."

Walker pointed out that the data in the report is there to inform us all, but says, "It will be of little effect if it doesn't inspire us as well."

Judith Pastel admits there is much work for the ICSD to do, particularly in the hiring of people of color. She says the district is working on this issue by taking out radio ads for job positions that will be played across the country in communities of color.

Pastel says she hopes to increase the number of students receiving free and reduced lunch in more rigorous courses. She also points out that in sports, there is not a race gap, but there is a class gap.

"Transportation is a huge problem for rural, low income families," she says.

She also spoke of the need for the community to be involved. "We need to help children when they are two, three and four…It's the well-being of our children from birth on, and even before then."

Walker said he believes the Village at Ithaca—which will turn five in February—and the ICSD are natural partners. "This [report card] will assess and be helpful to the ICSD in reaching its goals of eliminating race and class as predictors of success," he says, adding, "This collaborative process gives us hope."  

To read the Equity Report Card, go to: http://www.icsd.k12.ny.us/district/ExecSummary/ERC_12_22.pdf

To read the Executive Summary:
http://www.icsd.k12.ny.us/district/ExecSummary/ERC_Exec_summary_12_22f.pdf

Village at Ithaca:
http://www.villageatithaca.org/