Reaffirming a commitment to maintaining schools that prioritize social justice, inclusivity, and equity, the Canyons Board of Education endorsed a framework for combatting discrimination and bias in all its forms.
A committee of three Board members — Board Vice President Amber Shill and members Mont Millerberg and Amanda Oaks — will work with Canyons new Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins to structure a comprehensive review of the following to ensure equity and access for every student:
- CSD’s curriculum and instructional practices
- Policies and procedures
- Student access to opportunities
- Social-emotional programs and supports
Special attention will be paid to involving a diversity of perspectives, ideas, and voices, including students.
“This needs to be an ongoing conversation and something embedded in all that we do,” said Canyons Board President at the Board’s June 30 meeting. “This is an opportunity to be open and honest about where there are gaps and how to fix those gaps.”
The Board committee will report on its recommendations and findings at future Board meetings and with the Administration released the following joint statement:
Per policy, CSD is “committed to providing a working and educational environment free from unlawful discrimination or harassment …. on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.” Under the Board’s direction, CSD also has swiftly responded to reports of discrimination or bias; embraced equity-driven frameworks such as PBIS; and launched departments that advocate for student access and supports, among other efforts.
Still, we recognize that much more can — and should — be done to ensure equity and access to every child who attends Canyons schools.
In this era of unrest, this is a time to listen more, learn more, and do more. If we have any chance of repairing the scars of injustice in our society while also supporting individual and collective healing, it will begin with the education system. We must recognize opportunities to do better. This means a vigilance on our part to recognize and remove barriers to student success. If we can better understand each other’s lived experience, we are then in a position to foster an environment of respect. From this foundation, we can then take the necessary actions to increase safety, promote inclusion, and reduce injustice in order to set up our students with opportunities to thrive. We are confident in our abilities to come together as an educational community to understand each other and commit to find a way forward by making equity and justice a top priority in Canyons School District.
