Statement on recent events: 'Together, with one voice, we must speak out'

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Like many of you, the Baldwinsville Central School District and its Board of Education are deeply saddened by the recent events surrounding the tragic death of George Floyd and unrest across the United States. 

Our thoughts are with the Floyd family and all the impacted communities around our nation. Our thoughts are also with you. We know that the events in Minneapolis and even right here in Syracuse over the past few days have impacted our community. The social and emotional well-being of our students, staff and community members is extremely important to us.

As leaders and role-models who are charged with supporting and guiding the development of our children’s future, we cannot be silent. Together, with one voice, we must speak out and let all of our children know that we will not tolerate our students feeling unsafe in their skin. All of our children deserve a future untainted by the despair and rage that are inherent byproducts of racial injustice. Our work is essential for securing that future. This tragedy is a reminder of the importance of our work building a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment where all children can thrive and reach their full potential without fear or sadness. We will continue and intensify our commitment to equity and excellence, ensuring that we build culturally proficient employees who are able to provide the support, guidance, and protection our students deserve.

As a District, we are committed to creating a safe community that embraces diversity in all its forms. In June 2019 the district formed a Diversity Committee. Members include staff, students, community members, board of education members, and administrators. The committee was facilitated by Mr. Derrick Dorsey who is a consultant on Cultural Competency, Cultural Proficiency, and Unconscious Bias training. Mr. Dorsey led the committee in discussions around inclusion, equity and unconscious bias. In February 2020 the District adopted a mission statement focused on Diversity and Inclusion. It is a living document in which the committee will continue to adapt in order to further its work.  As the committee moves forward the work will focus on developing goals to support equity in areas of student academics and discipline, staff development, and community engagement.

We understand that the trauma of current events impacts us all in different ways and we want to reach out to offer our support. If your child is feeling overwhelmed with what is happening and needs to talk with someone, please reach out to your school’s Administrator, Social Worker, Psychologist or School Counselor. 

We are a family here at Baldwinsville CSD, and we want all our students to know that they have the right to be treated equally, regardless of the color of their skin. They have a right to be seen, heard and respected. They have the right to speak out against racism.  We are committed to protecting those rights by creating a community that stands up for justice. Together we can promote understanding and make a difference. 

We are here to support you. We are all in this together. We are B’ville Strong. 

 

Sincerely,

Matthew J. McDonald

Superintendent of Schools and the BCSD Board of Education