We are in unprecedented times and as the governing body of our school district we would like to be very clear and transparent on our ongoing practices and position.
As the pandemic continues to disrupt what we once called normal, the district adapts and moves to provide our children with the tools and resources needed to move forward. It is an ongoing, ever evolving process. We take the safety of all our community members very seriously and will do our very best to protect them all.
In addition to the pandemic, we have seen the ugly effects of racial injustice and insensitivity. Systemic racism is an issue that has been neatly tucked away from open discussion and often explained away as if it does not exist. Grandview C-4 has been highly invested in building a safe and diverse environment for all. Advancing the implementation of cultural competency as an integral step to promoting student success, family engagement and staff fellowship is an objective identified in the district’s current strategic plan and has been a focus during Dr. Rodrequez’s superintendency. Our district is blessed with a diverse population where students have opportunity to interface with people from all walks of life and they deserve the best education that they can get in order to excel in the world. The Board will continue to support Dr. Rodrequez and his team in their on-going actions to identify and address inequalities, stereotypes and implicit biases based on race and other demographics. These actions have included process modifications to our hiring practices, curriculum review, and professional development to include a focus on cultural humility. We know all stakeholders associated with our school district must continue to have open, honest conversations about race and racial issues based on actual data.
We also want to make it clear that the Board supports our men and women of law enforcement while at the same time denouncing race-related violence, including police brutality. The Grandview C-4 School District has continued to build a mutually supportive relationship with our local Law Enforcement, Fire Department and City Hall. We honor and thank them for their service. The Grandview C-4 Board of Education stands against racism and hate in all of its forms. On behalf of our students, we must, and will, move forward together.
#WeAreGrandview!