Administrative office for Central Okanagan Public Schools in Kelowna.
Advancing equity and inclusion in Central Okanagan Public Schools by developing an anti-racism framework and strategy raised concerns for two trustees at the Central Okanagan Board of Education meeting on Wednesday (Oct. 15).
Trustees Lee-Ann Tiede and Amy Geistlinger both questioned the need for the school board to deal with a further policy framework or strategy when the school district already has a K-12 anti-racism response plan in place, should such incidents occur.
"Why is there a need for a revamp of the existing policy?," Geistlinger asked.
Tiede said she felt uncomfortable voting on a concept still under development and with no formal request for staffing or financial commitments to carry it out, raising questions for her about what actual governance from the school board is required.
"I'm not sure what we are actually voting on," Tiede said.
Trustee Chantelle Desrosiers argued, "This does not mean we are doing a bad job (of addressing racism issues), but it is saying we need to do more."
A vote to defer a resolution to adopt the Safe, Caring and Inclusive Schools Framework and Anti-Racism Strategy for further discussion was defeated by a 4-2 vote.
Confusion about the strategy proposal was traced back to the announcement in January 2023 of a new anti-racism action plan launched by the Ministry of Education for K-12 students.
"This action plan is a critical step forward for students, educators, staff and families as we all work to create school communities that feel welcoming and supportive for people of all backgrounds," said then education minister Rachna Singh at the action plan announcement.
The intent of the action plan, however, was to support school districts in their commitment to anti-racism initiatives in their school communities, a follow-up that had not yet occurred for Central Okanagan Public Schools, said school board chair Julia Fraser.
"What triggered this now is that adopting this strategy was mandated in 2023, but it has not been addressed sooner at our local school district level due to other priorities," Fraser said.
But this year, school district staff have both worked with local stakeholders to adopt an anti-racism framework and strategy that identifies and fits the needs of the local school district, noted assistant superintendent Raquel Steen.
She explained that while the ministry has developed an action plan priority, it is up to each school district to adapt that action plan to fit its specific enrolment characteristics while creating an environment of cultural safety that ensures all voices are heard and respected.
In a staff report to the school board, Steen noted the framework and strategy "challenges us to consider our future efforts as our community continues to diversify.
"As we reflect on a decade of Truth and Reconciliation and the Calls to Action and over 20 years since our initial anti-racism plan, the District must ask ourselves: How have we shown up? Where have we made meaningful progress? Where are we still falling short?"
In the report, Steen added reconciliation and anti-racism are not endpoints, but lifelong responsibilities that demand learning, accountability and change.
Steen outlined the framework aspect addressing the areas of policy guidance, promoting safe and inclusive school environments, responding to incidents of discrimination, capacity building, classroom and school library resources and engagement with parents and caregivers.
Superintendent Jon Rever called the framework a "holistic approach" to developing an anti-racism strategy beyond just responding to particular incidents, and it meets the school district's objective of promoting safe and caring schools.
Tiede reiterated that the concept of anti-racism would be endorsed by the school trustees and greater school community, but at this point, the board is being asked to vote on a concept with no specific changes outlined to what already exists in policies for addressing racist or discriminatory issues.
The vote to adopt the Safe, Caring and Inclusive Schools Framework and Anti-Racism Strategy was adopted by the board, with Geistlinger and Tiede abstaining from the vote.