1. | STATEMENT OF VALUES1.1. | The Surrey Board of Education of School District No. 36 (Surrey) acknowledges and recognizes students, staff and school community members identifying (publicly or privately) as Indigenous, Black, or as racialized persons face a unique set of challenges and barriers within schools and communities. | 1.2. | All members of the Surrey School District (the “district”) share the responsibility of upholding the values inherent in the B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (B.C. – Bill 41, DRIPA), Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the B.C. Human Rights Code. In recognizing the importance of these values, the district is committed to eliminating racism and uplifting racial equity and Truth and Reconciliation by building greater awareness and understanding of the relation between privilege and bias and how this impacts students, staff, families and community members. | | 1.3. | Fostering anti-racism is an individual and shared responsibility that requires learning and action at every level of the district. Racism through behaviour and/or language is demeaning and harmful to all students, staff and communities. Racism directed towards Indigenous, Black, or other racialized students, staff and communities, such as language, intimidation, bullying, retaliation, exclusion, discrimination or oppression, by students, staff or any community member is not permitted in the district. The district encourages reporting of all incidences of racism, regardless of who the offender may be in accordance with the procedures set out in this policy and related school district policies and procedures. |
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2. | COMMITMENTS2.1. | Upholding human rights, advancing racial equity and Truth and Reconciliation and creating safe and caring working and learning environments are priorities of the district and essential components of student success, particularly for Indigenous, Black and racialized students. To create safe, caring, inclusive, and welcoming environments, the district is committed to the following actions:- Acknowledging historical and ongoing injustices to Indigenous Peoples across Canada and honouring and acting on Truth and Reconciliation.
- Creating opportunities with Indigenous, Black, and racialized peoples to see themselves in the education professions, including teaching and leadership.
- Creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that is anti-racist, culturally responsive, celebrates diversity and fosters a sense of belonging for all students and employees.
- Supporting student success and belonging through culturally responsive practices and resources, by engaging diverse perspectives and meeting the needs of Indigenous, Black, and racialized students.
- Developing and implementing policies, practices and programs that support, promote and foster an anti-racist culturally responsive learning environment.
- Supporting ongoing professional learning for staff on topics related to racial equity, culturally responsive teaching, anti-racism, and anti-oppression.
- Creating clear processes and practices for ensuring a respectful and safe educational system that is free of harmful bias, racism, discrimination, retaliation, and oppression and dedicated to achieving and upholding racial equity.
- Recognizing sensitivity to human rights, bias, and non-discrimination in personnel selection and promotion decisions, with the exception of Special Programs, under section 42(3) of the B.C. Human Rights Code.
| 2.2. | This policy statement applies to all students and employees, including permanent, temporary, and casual. | 2.3. | In addition to this policy, the district affirms our values and beliefs through the interrelated policies and procedures referenced in section (3). |
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