Recommendations from an anti-Blackness and Racial Climate Assessment were presented at the Tuesday, April 18 Santa Barbara Unified Board of Education meeting. The culture and climate of the District has a lot to do with the outcomes we get. It takes more than just a curriculum or an assessment to right-size our culture/climate. That’s why I appreciate the recommendations they really speak to how we create a culture and climate that values every single one of our children. We need to change the culture and the environment to make it safer for everyone.
Insight Education Group delivered a draft report in March and presented a complete and thorough report which includes an analysis of data, findings, and recommendations last night.
The report included several key recommendations, including:
- Enlist the entire school community to work toward establishing a supportive community focused on anti-racism and anti-Blackness and building an inclusive community for all educational partners.
- Develop a District Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Liberation (DEIJL) Team to serve in an advisory capacity to ensure equitable practices are enacted in the district.
- Refine talent management strategies for the district. Strategies should address recruitment, retention, and development of a talent pipeline to identify career options and advancement, particularly for staff of color.
- Capitalize on staff members’ interest in receiving robust, equity-focused professional learning by implementing a district-wide, consistently implemented course of professional learning with a focus on cultural humility for all levels of staff, including district office staff members.
- Develop or expand current curricula, instructional materials, and classroom practices in all content areas to prioritize inclusion, equity, and anti-racism. Develop a District Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Liberation (DEIJL) Team to serve in an advisory capacity to ensure equitable practices are enacted in the district.
We are reviewing the findings of the report and look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, parents, and the community to address them. It’s not acceptable to have many of our students, especially Black young students, not feeling safe. None of our children should feel that way in Santa Barbara Unified. The District wants to reiterate our commitment to ensuring this work is done well with a sense of urgency and deep, thoughtful planning.
The full report can be viewed here.