Pullman School District
Minutes
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Task Force Meeting
Date and Time
Monday June 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Location
Pullman Public Schools District Office
240 SE Dexter St.
Pullman, WA 99163
Please note these are FINAL task force meeting minutes. Task Force meeting minutes do not require approval at a subsequent meeting since they are prepared and agreed upon by the task force at the end of the meeting.
Committee Members Present
Bekah Miller MacPhee, Colette Casavant, Courtney Hodge, Daun Park, Stephany RunningHawk Johnson
Committee Members Absent
Ahmad Alssalem, Cheyenne Webber, Craig Nelson, Jia Cheng, Libby Pyo, Retal Abdellatiffe
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Task Force
A.
Tasks assigned by the School Board
B.
Summer Meeting Schedule & Task Force Membership Updates
The task force discussed the need for a July meeting in order to continue planning for the Fall Community Connections events.
The task force also discussed the process for adding the additional members to the task force that were approved at the board meeting. It was suggested that their be advertisement for student representatives on the task force at Greyhound Gear Up.
C.
Planning of Community Resource Events Hosted by PSD - "Community Connections"
Courtney recently met with a representative from Pullman Regional Hospital (PRH) to discuss potential collaborations with the school district. PRH expressed interest in aligning community outreach efforts and partnering with the district to host community clinics that could be part of the Community Connections events to help increase attendance and community impact.
PRH also shared plans for “Giving Back” projects intended to support the district, staff, and families as needed amid ongoing budget challenges. The team discussed involving the Boys and Girls Club in the Community Connections events to provide engaging activities for children while adults connect with resource organizations.
A shared vision emerged to center health and inclusion at the heart of the Community Connection events. The goal is to ensure events are welcoming to all families, including those from diverse backgrounds, family structures, and cultures. Organizations will be encouraged to provide translated materials to better serve non-English speaking families.
PRH also noted that they have a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Courtney received a contact to explore a joint meeting between PRH’s committee and the district’s DEIB Task Force to align shared priorities and explore collaboration opportunities.
Additionally, the team explored the idea of identifying third-party advocate groups to support families navigating experiences with harassment, intimidation, bullying, or discrimination in our schools. The team discussed exploring potential grant opportunities to help fund this work. These advocates would be trained in district policies and serve as guides for families during the resolution process.
Tasks reviewed by the task force.