Manitowoc schools are working toward a culture of diversity and inclusivity. Here's how.

MANITOWOC - Equity, diversity and inclusivity.

These are the intangible goals the newly formed Manitowoc Schools Equity Advisory Committee is dedicated to achieving in all areas of school life.

“We've seen in our data that we have some disparities between sub-groups of students who fall under certain socio-economic or race or gender in that matter and this group's purpose is to provide — to have some discussions about how we might go about supporting that, whether it's parent engagement, student engagement, district initiatives, teacher trainings,” Manitowoc Public School District Superintendent Mark Holzman told the Herald Times Reporter. “Then, they can give the board some of that information and feedback for the opportunity to potentially take that information and use that to utilize new opportunities or programs or engagement.”

The committee’s goals, according to the Manitowoc School Board meeting minutes from April 13, include supporting a student diversity/equity inclusion club, including an equity question in the interview process when hiring employees in the district, encouraging parent engagement and involvement, and updating the artwork in school buildings to include artwork or posters of more diverse leaders.

“(We) talk specifically about how we might help, support and engage all students learning at high levels and continue to learn about how we might support the equity within our schools,” Holzman said. “Trying to support the needs of all students at any given point in time regardless of their race, religion, color, creed or socio-economic background.”

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The committee is composed of school board members, teachers, students and parents. Holzman said the group has met several times since their first meeting in October.

“We're continuing to try and provide voices to the board from parents and staff members and community members whose voice may not have been heard in our traditional setting,” he said.

The committee was founded as the 2020-2021 school year started, after Wisconsin and the United States experienced a wave of racial unrest that was triggered by the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020.

In the wake of months of protests and demonstrations over the treatment of Black people and other minorities, schools, government offices, places of employment, and other groups revisited and revised their own policies, or lack thereof, for racial equity.

Contact Alisa Schafer at aschafer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AlisaMSchafer.