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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District No. 833, South Washington County Schools, as follows: We believe that Black lives matter.

We condemn all forms of bullying and unlawful discrimination.

We condemn hate speech and systematic racism directed at Black, Indigenous and people of color.

We condemn all manifestations and expressions of racism, xenophobia, discrimination, and ethnic or racial intolerance.

We believe that an accurate understanding of the past is necessary in order to build a successful vision of the future that works for each student. We cannot value Black and Indigenous lives without teaching their history, recognizing the contributions of Black and Indigenous leaders, and celebrating the sacrifices and achievements that were necessary to move us closer to the fulfillment of America’s promise of justice and equality for all. We authorize the Superintendent to create a curriculum review process that incorporates accurate portrayals of Black, Indigenous and people of color. (Policies 603 & 616) We authorize and direct the Superintendent to foster a culture of anti-racism and to take all legal steps necessary to further racial equity within our schools, departments, and buildings through the creation of a racial equity plan for the academic achievement and mental/emotional well-being of each student.

We authorize and direct the Superintendent or designee to provide professional development opportunities for staff that focus on combatting systemic and institutional racism and further develop the We commit to fostering a school environment that promotes respect for and curiosity about all cultures, and that affirms equal humanity of all our students, staff members, families, and community members.

We adopt the following messages as official government speech: “We Believe Black Lives Matter.” “Stand Up, Stand Strong, Stand Proud.” We authorize the Superintendent to promote this government speech across the District and to attitudes, skills, and beliefs that are necessary to support each student and their families approve additional messaging, signage, and visuals that are consistent with this government speech and that further the objectives of this Resolution.

We commit to ensuring that student achievement will not fall into predictable patterns identified by culture, race, or ethnicity, and to ensuring that each student will have access to personalized learning opportunities that honor the student’s unique background and culture to promote a sense of belonging.

We will seek to amplify diverse perspectives in support of students of color, their families, and educators. We will not only listen to their concerns and aspirations, but also pledge to leverage those concerns and aspirations to inform our decisions.

We authorize the Superintendent to create a process that integrates equity into all district decision-making, school board policy review and adoption processes, including an annual review of policy 102.1 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.