racism

Work is underway on the development of an anti-black racism plan for the Rainy River District School Board.

Education Director Heather Campbell says it included meeting with the group Parents for Black Children.

“This advocacy group is province-wide and is meeting with each board and looking really at the Dreams Delayed Ontario Human Rights Committee report and each board’s movement to recognize those recommendations.”

The report identified systemic anti-Black racism in Ontario’s education system.

In providing an update on the board’s work, Campbell says they are working to remove barriers, improve opportunities and ensure schools reflect and honour the diversity, identities and cultures of the communities they serve.

The board is also involved in a survey with others in the area.

A localized survey was tried, but the response was not as expected.

“So we’ve reached out to other boards part of the region, so Kenora Catholic, Keewatin-Patricia, and Northwest Catholic to join forces in doing a broader survey to form the development of a framework that each board can then individualize for its plan,” says Campbell.

The final plan is to come before the trustees at a later time.