In May, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued a press release about the Voluntary Resolution Agreement between the District and the OCR, along with a 28-page letter. The letter included statistical data about the district’s treatment of Native American students, along with statements from district employees, including discriminatory statements attributable to administration, which were not reflective of the fundamental views and beliefs of the District or its administration.  The Board appreciates the public’s patience as the Board investigated this matter and outlined a path forward.

First and foremost, we apologize for those who were affected by these statements. We firmly believe every student deserves to learn in an environment free from harassment, bias, or prejudice.  As a district, for all of our families, and for our community we must do better. We will use this incident as an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to our core values and ensure that all students experience a school environment where they feel valued, respected, and supported. The Board acknowledges that there is a great deal of work to be done to ensure Native American students are treated equitably in the district, and we will not shy away from this work.

While we trust that these statements are not the beliefs held by the Superintendent, given her long-standing service with the District and specifically her dedication to supporting Native American students, the Board is requiring the Superintendent to be on leave for 30 days, complete a cultural competency training, and work towards rebuilding positive, trusting relationships with the Native American community. We are confident in Superintendent Swigart’s ability to lead this District and ensure that all students enjoy a positive, safe, and nondiscriminatory environment while at school.

The OCR Agreement and the actions it requires serve as proactive steps toward continuous improvement in the District. The work in the Agreement includes reviewing and revising policies, providing staff training, providing informational sessions for students, parents, and families, creating a Stakeholder Committee composed of Native American community members, analyzing data, and more. District administration has already started this important work.

In addition to our obligations under the Agreement, the Board will require district employees to receive cultural sensitivity training that focuses on promoting awareness and understanding of diverse perspectives and experiences. This will equip educators and administrators with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and address discriminatory behavior effectively. Students and staff are encouraged to speak up and report instances of harassment or discrimination so that concerns can be investigated and appropriately addressed.

We look forward to working collaboratively with the OCR, our school community, and stakeholders to implement the terms of the Agreement and ensure a bright future for all students.