On behalf of the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District Board of Education, I would like to express our extreme disappointment and disgust that someone used the n-word, the b-word and made other disruptive sounds during one of our virtual school events on Jan. 31, a high school curriculum night for incoming ninth-grade students. We sincerely apologize to our families, students and staff members that something like this happened on our watch.
We especially would like to apologize to Jamesville-DeWitt High School Assistant Principal Ms. Candace Johnson, who was attacked and called the n-word during her online presentation. We stand by and in support of Ms. Johnson and would like to commend her for exemplifying composure, grace and professionalism in the face of such hatred. While we cannot take away the pain and hurt that Ms. Johnson and our community continue to feel from that day, we can promise to learn from this event and to do better.
We celebrate and value that Jamesville-DeWitt is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic school district—as is the world we live in—and here at Jamesville-DeWitt, we will not tolerate the use of any racist language or acts. Our technology department and the DeWitt Police Department continue to work together to identify the individual or individuals who made the appalling comments.
Such investigations take time and ours is still ongoing. If these perpetrators are part of our J-D school community, rest assured that their actions will be subject to the district’s code of conduct, as well as possible criminal or civil charges. Our technology staff has also worked to tighten security controls for future Zoom meetings.
We continue to stand with our superintendent and his messages to our community. Along with Dr. Smith and more than ever, we are committed to our work to ensure that every student and staff member feels welcome, accepted and included in our schools. We are dedicated to creating a school community where differences are celebrated and valued.
We understand that many of our families, students and staff members, especially those of color, may question if J-D is a district that just “talks the talk.” We are not. We are committed to change.
We must stay committed to our diversity, equity and inclusion work, known as DEI, and embed the four key tenets of the culturally responsive-sustaining education framework in our work. They are as follows:
- To create a welcoming and affirming environment where we build close relationships with students and families and share a collective responsibility to learn about staff and student cultures and communities.
- To set high expectations and rigorous instruction that supports project-based learning and student leadership opportunities, such as the addition next year of a Senior Capstone course.
- To support inclusive curriculum and assessment where instructional strategies adapt to diverse learning styles and resources reflect racially, culturally and linguistically diverse perspectives.
- To provide ongoing professional learning and support in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, including our current staff training with the NYU Metro Center and the work that our curriculum council is doing in evaluating our curriculum through an equity lens. This work needs to continue and grow.
As stated in the District Strategic Plan, we will continuously search for ways to improve the enriched learning environment at our schools, eliminate racism, eradicate disproportionality and build equity for all staff and students. We appreciate the expertise of our recently formed District Equity Council, whose members met Feb. 3 to discuss what happened during the curriculum night presentation. They shared their insights, analyzed the situation in a historical context and offered suggestions to help our J-D community move forward together. We appreciate their time and expertise.
We look forward to the work of this council, which will include:
-
Offering insight and support around the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals;
-
Serving as advisors;
-
Learning about district equity initiatives; and
-
Bringing forth concerns so that the district can work with the larger J-D community to seek solutions.
We now recognize the need to implement bystander intervention training, to provide individuals within our community the tools to say something when they see something, to stand up and speak out against racism, bullying and harassment and to take care of one another and show up for each other.
We also recognize the need to explore and implement more culturally-responsive, trauma-informed practices. Each person’s experiences and how they see and view the world differ from one another. It is important that we listen to each other and recognize how each other’s racial, cultural and social identities can shape our experience of trauma and healing. Only when we take the time to learn about the historical backgrounds and experiences of our students, staff and families and leverage their cultural strengths and knowledge will our schools become safe spaces for learning and growth and for healing.
The incident last Monday evening shows us why the work we have engaged in as a district surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion is so important and why we must continue educating ourselves and each other. We must continue learning and growing together and listening carefully to one another to build a stronger and more inclusive J-D community. We invite the community to join us at future Board of Education meetings31 and to continue our DEI work moving forward together.
Thank you.