NOTE: This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. May 10 with a link to the survey.
What does it mean for the New Westminster school district to become anti-racist?
Community members have a chance to weigh in on that question this month as School District 40 moves ahead with the development of its anti-racism strategy.
The school district has sent out a survey that is giving students, staff, parents and community members a chance to provide feedback on the issue.
At the April 27 school board meeting, district principal for equity and inclusion Raj Johal noted the survey has been developed with input from school district stakeholders, including members of the Student Voice team at New Westminster Secondary School, the district’s unions (New Westminster Teachers’ Union and CUPE Local 409), its principals and vice-principals’ group, its SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) and Indigenous leads, board members and senior staff.
The district’s anti-racism steering committee also met at the end of April to discuss the development of questions for focus groups that will be coming later in May. Those focus groups, which will hear from students, staff and parents, will be led by Bakau Consulting – the consulting firm the district has engaged to lead the creation of its anti-racism framework and strategy.
Interested community members have a chance to fill out the anonymous survey now. It's open until Sunday, May 16.
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