The group tasked with overhauling how Concord-Carlisle schools track bias incidents and school climate meets Thursday for its second session, with the district's new Climate and Culture Framework as the only item on the agenda.
Why this group exists.
The working group grew out of a prior Bias and Hate Incident Reporting body active since early 2026 — itself a response to a federal investigation into allegations that the district failed for years to adequately address antisemitism at Concord-Carlisle High School, which led to a resolution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The numbers behind that concern were stark: data reviewed by the predecessor group in February showed 14 of 33 bias incidents filed countywide in 2025 originated in Concord, eight of them school-based. In December 2024, racist, antisemitic and transphobic graffiti was found in CCHS bathrooms, triggering a joint police and school investigation.
What the framework is actually meant to fix.
The framework will recommend how often the full School Committee receives updates on school climate and what data those reports should include — pulling from student surveys, input from affinity groups like the Black Student Union and Spectrum LGBTQIA+, community feedback and other metrics. School Committee member Michael Williams put the stakes plainly at the group's first meeting: "If we'd been doing this really well [before now], the issues that have come up in the past might not have come up, because [the district] would have had a handle on them."
Building on what already exists.
Superintendent Laurie Hunter noted the district already collects data through the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Panorama surveys, but the group is looking for additional ways to gauge student belonging and mental health beyond those existing tools.
Who's shaping this.
The working group includes Brian Waterson, chair of the Concord-Carlisle Regional School Committee; Michael Williams, school committee member; Sandeep Pisharody, chair of the Concord School Committee (K-8); Superintendent Hunter; Andrew Nyamekye, director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; and Michelle MacDougall, METCO representative.
Timing.
Thursday's session comes one day after the Joint School Committee is scheduled to formally adopt the working group's charge at its July 29 meeting. The framework itself is expected to be finished and presented to the full School Committee before the 2026-27 school year begins.
How to watch.
Thursday's noon meeting is open to the public via Zoom.
