Interested in joining the Equity Advisory Committee?

Last year, Senate Bill 732 went into effect. The law requires school districts to establish an educational equity advisory committee or EAC. The EAC’s purpose is to provide feedback to the Superintendent and the School Board about equity issues in schools. Learn more about Senate Bill 732.

We are looking for members of our school community to serve on Grants Pass School District 7’s Equity Advisory Committee. The EAC will complement and help communicate the work of our established Team for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity or TIDE. Please note, EAC membership must be primarily representative of underserved student groups such as those with disabilities, and people of color. Additional requirements and time commitments are detailed below. 

If you are interested in serving on the Equity Advisory Committee, please submit a brief summary explaining why you want to serve on the EAC to mdiego@grantspass.k12.or.us. Submissions must be received by Friday, February 24, 2023. Those interested will be invited to attend the next TIDE meeting, where members will select finalists for approval by the school board. 

Equity Advisory Committee to the Superintendent and the School Board

During the fall of each year, the District will invite up to seven TIDE (Team for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) members to be a part of an Equity Advisory Committee (EAC) to the Superintendent and the School Board. The term of the EAC is one year and a TIDE member could be on the EAC for up to five years. 

Purpose

The purpose of the EAC is to provide communication and feedback to the Superintendent and the School Board about equity issues in schools. TIDE will develop the key topics to be shared with the District. The EAC will also bring back communication from the Superintendent and the School Board to TIDE for the work that is happening. 

Equity Advisory Committee Membership

The EAC will be composed of seven (7) members: five (5) adults and two (2) students. No more than two (2) EAC members may be School District staff. 

The committee make-up will be a majority of Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color (BIPOC). For example, of the seven members, four (4) must be BIPOC and three would be White. Other protected classes would also be preferred for membership, including those who identify LGBTQ+ and those with disabilities. 

Terms and Agreements

The EAC term is minimally one school year and may be held for up to five (5) years. 

EAC members agree to participate in TIDE meetings (minimum attendance to be at least three of the four TIDE meetings annually), EAC meetings (the majority of the EAC scheduled meetings), and quarterly reports to the Superintendent. An EAC member may also be asked to present to the School Board a quarterly report.  

EAC members also agree to represent TIDE members in their advisory capacity which may or may not align with their personal opinions or values. The task of the EAC is to provide guidance to the Superintendent and the School Board around issues students and families are experiencing in our school systems specifically, issues brought before TIDE. EAC meetings and presentations will be set by the Superintendent. 

EAC members also agree to share without bias, feedback from the Superintendent and the School Board. 

EAC members fully participate in TIDE activities where their personal experiences, values, and opinions may be shared as with all of the TIDE members. Participation as an EAC member does not limit TIDE participation in any way.  

NOTE: One of the adult EAC members will participate on the School District’s Budget as well. That process begins in late winter. The process for appointment to the Budget Committee is done by the School Board.