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Meeting Date:
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10/28/2021 - 5:30 PM
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Category:
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Report of the Committee on Accountability, Finance, and Personnel
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Type:
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Action
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Subject:
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3. Action on a Request to Adopt a Resolution to Honor the Life and Legacy of Ms. Sarah Grant and Name the Dance Studio at the North Division Complex the Sarah Grant Dance Studio
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Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
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Goal 1 Academic Achievement Goal 2 Student, Family and Community Engagement
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Attachments
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File Attachment:
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Background:
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In September 2021, the Committee of North Division Music Department Alumni sent a communication to the Superintendent of Schools requesting that the resolution included with this item be adopted to honor the life and legacy of Ms. Sarah Grant, a profound and dedicated teacher with MPS for many decades, and that a dance studio at the North Division Complex be named the Sarah Grant Dance Studio.
The Administration supports the request to honor this great woman who positively impacted the lives of countless MPS students through dance, travel and the study and sharing of African American history.
Ms. Grant's family, the North Division school community, as well as North Division alumni, are all in support of the resolution and the request to name a dance studio at the North Division Complex after Ms. Sarah Grant. The request is in alignment with Administrative Policy 5.01: Facilities, which does not place restrictions on the naming of portions of school buildings, such as a library or dance studio. It has been the Administration’s practice to support such requests from school communities who have conducted outreach and are in full agreement on such requests.
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Fiscal Impact Statement:
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Costs associated with naming the dance studio at the North Division Complex will be absorbed in the school's budget.
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Implementation and Assessment Plan
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Upon approval by the Board, an embossed copy of the Resolution will be placed in a prominent place near the Sarah Grant Dance Studio at the North Division Complex.
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Recommendation:
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Your Committee recommends adoption of the resolution:
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant, was a profound and dedicated teacher with the Milwaukee Public Schools for many decades; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant, a graduate of Central State University, received her undergraduate degree in physical education and her master’s degree from Columbia University of New York; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant began teaching at North Division High School in 1961; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant or "Mama Dou" as she was affectionally called spent 34 years at North Division and was the longest serving Department Chair in the history of the school; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant led the way in establishing interscholastic athletics in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and coached track, cheerleading and was a cofounder of N-Force; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant single-handedly sponsored the school’s first student leadership conference; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant was a dedicated and inspirational teacher at North Division High School for decades and created opportunities for students to see themselves through dance; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant created the Nefertari Dancers in 1968 at North Division High School, which gave tribute to the history of black people when they walked as Kings and Queens of Egypt in the 14th Century B.C. Queen Nefertari was portrayed as a woman who symbolized blackness, beauty and power; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant prepared the students who were part of the Nefertari Dancers to perform locally and in many major cities throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant created a class that showed students a sense of discipline and pride in their heritage, gave them focus and commitment, and helped them learn to appreciate the art forms of other ethnic groups; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant provided students with opportunities of cultural study during numerous trips to Africa including studying the dance of the country with the people of the country; and
WHEREAS Ms. Sarah Grant’s wonderful work with the Nefertari Dancers over many years, African Americans are able to feel proud about themselves and their heritage. The Nefertari Dancers have made a significant impact in African American history; and
THEREFORE, now, let it be RESOLVED that Milwaukee Public Schools honors the life and legacy of Ms. Sarah Grant; and
THEREFORE, let it further be FURTHER RESOLVED that consistent with honoring the life and legacy of Ms. Sarah Grant, the dance studio at the North Division Complex be named the Sarah Grant Dance Studio.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer
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