San Mateo Union High School District renews antiracist training contracts

As promised, Jacobson pulled the consent agenda item with six professional development contracts up for approval, hoping to specifically vote down the one for Truss and Safir. She also identified the contract with Restorative Equity Partnership as another to be voted against, citing similar concerns over tactics in how antiracism learning was taught.  

In response, Candance Thomas, the professional development coordinator at Mills High School said during public comment the consultants are critical to the education of staff.

After multiple professional learning sessions held over the course of three years and the development of the district’s inclusive instructional framework, Safir and Truss seek to continue helping district staff implement antiracist and humanizing educational practices, according to their contract proposal.

“Trustee Jacobson and Trustee [Robert] Griffin talked about how we have great in-house professional development and I agree,” Thomas said. “But what y’all don’t see a lot is what goes on in the background of that, and that is working with our consultant who can really give us a bird’s eye view of what is happening.” 

Jacobson said she does “support work to eradicate racism” and to take appropriate action to address it within the district. However, she cited cost at the June 20 board meeting to reconsider the contracts. 

“Over the last three years with all this money spent, I’m just not seeing some of the outcomes that we should be expecting,” Jacobson said. “I’m wondering if our funds would be diverted to a different consultant with a different perspective in order to broaden the scope or take a different approach or save the money.” 

Jacobson had suggested other consultants to be considered by the rest of the trustees, but board President Ligia Andrade Zúñiga said other contract proposals “downplay” the topic. 

“If we have language in our district that isn’t changing, then what is it going to take to change that?” Andrade Zúñiga said. “Watering it down isn’t going to change that.” 

Though Jacobson’s reasoning to not spend the money on these consultants was because of a lack of progress, she also said she has heard from teachers that the training has, in fact, been useful. She said this could be another sign that the district “[doesn’t] need to spend the money.” 

Assistant Superintendent Julia Kempkey, who has worked closely with the consultant duo, said it makes financial sense to finish out this four-year contract rather than search for another consultant. 

“At this point, there's an economic reason to continue with a particular contractor because we have a relationship with them and we don’t have to go through the whole process with them understanding our particular needs as a district.”

Noting that Kempkey, Truss and Safir have combined over 60 years of experience in education and curriculum, parent Joy Pasamonte Henry said during public comment that “we want to center student voices, not the voices of anyone uncomfortable with this work.” 

Genevieve Pasamonte Henry, an incoming junior at Mills High School, said the district should maintain the antiracism curriculum efforts because they are necessary to helping teachers and staff understand the varying experiences of their students. Pasamonte Henry’s own experience suggests there's a continuous need to have these discussions. 

“I get looks from my peers when slavery or segregation is mentioned, I get comments that I’m not Asian enough, not Black enough, not Hispanic enough,” the incoming junior said. “In addition to focusing on school, I have to deal with people’s reactions or comments about the color of my skin, my hair or my features.” 

Acknowledging that there is always room for improvement, Trustee Greg Land said he has noticed progress in the district since its commitment to this work. He said it is critical to not “deviate from the course.”  

The district decided in 2021, after a 2019-2020 grand jury report detailed hate incidents in its schools, it would invest in a multi-year initiative to dismantle systemic inequity.Truss and Safir were hired as contracted leadership coaches for professional development purposes. With the 3-2 vote, with Trustees Jacobson and Teri Chavez dissenting, they were just approved for their fourth and likely final year.

ana@smdailyjournal.com

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