Phoenixville School District plan focuses on ‘belonging’

PHOENIXVILLE — With universities bowing to pressure from the Trump administration to step back from diversity, equity and inclusion practices, the Phoenixville School District is walking a different path.

During a special July 1 school board meeting, the board unanimously approved new goals for the superintendent in the strategic plan, which specifically sets goals for equity, inclusion and belonging, or what the district calls EIB for short.

“The Phoenixville Area School District is a caring, welcoming community where every student belongs. Now, more than ever, it is crucial for our students, staff, and families to know that their school board stands with them and is committed to living our district motto: ‘You Belong Here,’” School Board President Scott Overland said in a statement released after the meeting.

Phoenixville School Board President Scott Overland. (MediaNews Group File Photo)

“I am proud that our Board unanimously approved our first-ever, stand-alone EIB goal and will continue to foster an inclusive environment where students can focus on learning and growing no matter who they are or where they are from,” he said.

Although the final language for some of those goals was up for discussion and saw some changes made, the main thrust of the effort remained unchanged.

The plan serves as “kind of a flag” for district values, said board member Sean Halloran

For example, some worried that language about cooperating with other agencies could be interpreted by some in the community as including ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The district, which has a sizeable Latino population, has previously indicated its cooperation will be limited to what is directly required by law, and no further.

Thus, the strategic plan language was modified to read that the district’s cooperation would be with agencies “that align with our mission and our values.”

Board member Dan Wiser noted that the district’s motto is “You Belong Here,” which, he said, was reason enough to add a goal to foster belonging among all types of students.

“Studies have shown have a sense of belonging improves student engagement, improves mental health and fosters stronger academic outcomes,” Wiser said.

In the end, the board settled on the following language:

Goal 5: Foster a Culture of Belonging throughout the district

The Phoenixville Area School District will continue to build a culture where all students, staff, and families feel welcomed, respected, and included by embedding practices of belonging and inclusion in professional development, student and family supports, hiring, and school culture.

Strategic Plan Goals:

• Ensure PASD is an environment where every student, staff member, and family feel a sense of belonging, representation, and empowerment by fostering a culture of belonging through welcoming school environments.

• Ensure equitable access and inclusion in extracurricular, athletic, and academic opportunities for all students and families to foster well-rounded development.

• Foster a diverse and high-performing workforce that mirrors the PASD community and student body, leveraging a wide range of perspectives and talents to enrich our educational environment.

• To sustain and deepen the district’s commitment to inclusive school communities, PASD will evaluate and expand the Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB) function to support professional development, student supports, policy review, data analysis, and community engagement.