AUBURN - A pair of Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education members are in opposition to a community forum to discuss and combat racism, not because of its content, but rather on the way it was organized.
Both David Lansford and Fred Cornelius voiced concern over the input - or lack thereof - the board had in organizing “Moving Past Racism,” a community-wide dialogue on racism and its entrenchment in local spheres during Tuesday's regular board meeting. The Auburn school district, Cayuga Community College and the city of Auburn have partnered to arrange the forum, slated for 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Auburn Holiday Inn.
Lansford and Cornelius wondered why the board was never asked by resolution to support the forum and participate in it, given the district's involvement in sponsoring the event.
“If the school is going to put its name on top of it, the board should give the OK,” Cornelius said.
The board added a resolution to Tuesday's agenda to approve the event as planned by the district; board members voted 7-2 in favor, with Lansford and Cornelius against.
Despite their concerns, both board members made clear that the content of the forum is wholly important. Lansford said combating racism has and will continue to be a lifelong crusade, and his issue with the forum is only in procedure.
The event is a follow-up from the district's diversity task force, assembled in 2005 and comprised of administrators, advocates, community members and board members - Michael Stearns and Ginny Kent sit on the task force - to assist in initiatives toward racial cultural understanding.
The district, along with the two other collaborators, hired a facilitator to moderate the forum - at this point believed to be Sean McLeod - and will be sharing the cost.
Superintendent J.D. Pabis said federal grant money allocated to the district under Title 1 will be used to pay for the event - which will fall into the district's goal to increase community involvement in education - and there will be no taxpayer expense.
Such an expenditure does not traditionally require a board vote. “It's nothing they would typically vote on,” he said.
Pabis said he sent information about the event in his weekly updates, the latest one sent last week.
But few board members knew the details of the event.
“I 100 percent support it and I completely agree with the content,” Kent said. “My feeling is as a member of the task force is that I don't know as much about it as I should.”
Pabis apologized to the board if he acted inappropriately.
“I apologize if I did not give enough information,” he said.
Kent responded by saying that Pabis always informs the board about the goings-on in the district, and that this is highly unusual.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
Lansford and Cornelius wondered why the board was never asked by resolution to support the forum and participate in it, given the district's involvement in sponsoring the event.
“If the school is going to put its name on top of it, the board should give the OK,” Cornelius said.
The board added a resolution to Tuesday's agenda to approve the event as planned by the district; board members voted 7-2 in favor, with Lansford and Cornelius against.
Despite their concerns, both board members made clear that the content of the forum is wholly important. Lansford said combating racism has and will continue to be a lifelong crusade, and his issue with the forum is only in procedure.
The event is a follow-up from the district's diversity task force, assembled in 2005 and comprised of administrators, advocates, community members and board members - Michael Stearns and Ginny Kent sit on the task force - to assist in initiatives toward racial cultural understanding.
The district, along with the two other collaborators, hired a facilitator to moderate the forum - at this point believed to be Sean McLeod - and will be sharing the cost.
Superintendent J.D. Pabis said federal grant money allocated to the district under Title 1 will be used to pay for the event - which will fall into the district's goal to increase community involvement in education - and there will be no taxpayer expense.
Such an expenditure does not traditionally require a board vote. “It's nothing they would typically vote on,” he said.
Pabis said he sent information about the event in his weekly updates, the latest one sent last week.
But few board members knew the details of the event.
“I 100 percent support it and I completely agree with the content,” Kent said. “My feeling is as a member of the task force is that I don't know as much about it as I should.”
Pabis apologized to the board if he acted inappropriately.
“I apologize if I did not give enough information,” he said.
Kent responded by saying that Pabis always informs the board about the goings-on in the district, and that this is highly unusual.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
