The board received a presentation Jan. 16 on a proposed rewrite of Policy 7000, titled Workforce Diversity and Inclusion. The draft policy expands the districts stated commitments and outlines recruitment, hiring and retention strategies alongside proposed metrics for monitoring progress.

The presentation was led by Denisha Barclay, coordinator of restorative justice in the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Julia Bialeski, coordinator of recruitment and hiring in Human Resources. The draft policy proposes a strategic recruitment plan with annual, measurable goals to increase applicant and hire diversity across race, ethnicity, gender identity and other characteristics; strengthened partnerships with institutes of higher education and teacher-preparation programs; interview protocols intended to reduce bias; enhanced induction and retention programs; mentorships and affinity spaces; and public reporting metrics including applicant demographics, tenure rates and staffing attrition disaggregated by race, ethnicity and gender.

Staff said implementation steps include a recruitment plan, revised interview and selection procedures, and board monitoring metrics; a public hearing on the draft policy is planned for February with board action expected April 10, 2025, and an effective date of July 1, 2025, if adopted.

Ending: Board members had no immediate questions in the meeting and staff offered to provide additional briefings or one-on-one sessions on the draft policy before the public hearing and action dates.