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Officials address politics, equity and diverty in Lawrence schools
Winding up
INTerVieW By BiLL SANserViNO
The Lawrence Gazette recently sat down with officials from the Lawrence Township Public Schools to talk about issues confronting the district. Past articles resulting from that interview ran in the April and May issues of the Gazette and addressed topics such as school finances, the reconfiguration of grades at elementary schools and the Lawrence Intermediate School, and the teacher shortage crisis. Those articles
can be read online at communitynews.org. This month, Superintendent Robyn Klim, Business Administrator Thomas Eldridge and Sean Fry, the director of personnel and administrative services, talk with Lawrence Gazette editor Bill Sanservino about politics in education and diversity within the district. The below Q&A has been edited for grammar and clarity. Lawrence Gazette: When you talk about the education profession, in some instances it
has become a politically charged environment. Parents, maybe more than ever, are really interested, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there. For example, last year I got a call from a resident after I did a story about the candidates running for school board. The woman said I didn’t address, some important issues, like whether the district is teaching “they/them” pronouns. Things like that. How do teachers and school See SCHOOLS, Page 7
LTPS appoints new directors in administrative reconfiguration EDiTeD By BiLL SANserViNO
Paige Van Hise on the pitcher’s mound during a recent LHS softball game. For more on Van Hise and the team, turn to Page 8. (Photo by Sam Pastorella/Pastorella Photos.)
The Lawrence Township Board of Education recently appointed two new director positions. On July 1, current Slackwood Elementary School Principal Jeanne Muzi will step into the new role of director of student achievement, equity and opportunity, and current Guidance Supervisor Melanie Fillmyer will assume the title director of
school counseling and student supports. The district underwent a strategic reconfiguration of administrative responsibilities following the retirement announcement of Clifton Thompson, the director of diversity, equity and inclusion. The purpose of the reconfiguration is to optimize the support and resources available to students, ensuring that every learner receives the neces-
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sary assistance to thrive, said a school district news release. As a result of the reconfiguration, the new director of student achievement, equity and opportunity will report to Rajneet (Pimmi) Goomer, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and the district will see the director of school counseling and student supports reporting to Vanessa Bekarciak, assistant superintendent See NEWS BRIEFS, Page 3
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