2/24/2009 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Minutes

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t Town of Mashpee Affirmative Action Committee Meeting Minutes February 24, 2009 Present; Chair-Maryanne Wray, Marilyn Farren, Paul Perry, Deborah Vaughn Also Present: Cassie Fernandes, George Spivey CALL TO ORDER The meeting commenced at 5:35 p.m. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Motion made by Ms. Farren to accept the minutes of January 27,2009. Motion seconded by Ms. Vaughn. All voted unanimously. AGENDA ITEMS: Invited Guest-Mr. George Spivey, Falmouth Affirmative Action Officer: In Mr. Spivey's role he works with both the Superintendent of Schools and the Town Manager. The position was initially created back in the 1980's in response to discriminatory issues that arose and the position is the only one in Massachusetts. Mr. Spivey's responsibilities on the town side include harassment and discrimination complaints as well as working closely with the Commission on Disabilities. Mr. Spivey works with caregivers and the disabled and assists with access issues such as parking. At the schools, Mr. Spivey serves as a mentor and assists principals,teachers and families with various student related issues. Mr. Spivey has experience working as a principal and is very committed to supporting the students and encouraging them to seek extra help. Mr. Spivey has developed an after school program that has grown from 7 to 17 students, with food funding sponsored by Concerned Black Men, an organization founded 30 years ago to mentor young males and encourage academic performance in school. Mr. Spivey works with kids of all abilities and encourages them and provides structure and guidance. He also provides outreach to parents. Mr. Spivey has found that some of the issues at the high school level are probably long term issues resulting from difficulties at home. He emphasized that, in some cases, the time at school could be the best part of the day for some students. As a result, personal contact between a teacher and student can be crucial and the opportunity to provide positive feedback or a kind word of encouragement could have a long lasting affect. Mr. Spivey spends most of his time in the school and also assists with the No Place for Hate program. The program was initiated as a response to graffiti left in a bathroom. The program has been supported by the entire town, and has been helpful in addressing such issues as the recent reported racial profiling concerns in Falmouth,which has initiated a new program training the police with a grant. Mr. Spivey feels that Falmouth has been successful in addressing issues regardless of the intensity of the concern. Issues are addressed directly in an effort to work things out. Among the town activities,Falmouth hosted a Martin Luther King breakfast which was very successful. Mr. Spivey's job is to resolve issues at the lowest level possible and to allow people to express their concerns. Many people sometimes need help fighting their battles. He believes in giving people a fair chance and will assume that people are being truthful. Mr. Spivey's greatest challenges involve individuals in need of mental health assistance,but unwilling to accept the assistance. Mr. Spivey works with both school and town committees and addresses the same issues seen at Affirmative Action