Next Steps Coming: Action on Racism - Burnaby Schools - School District 41, Burnaby, BC, Canada

As we continue our journey and work to create a better path forward together, recommendations on how to address racism within the Burnaby School District will be delivered to Trustees in a report at their September Board Meeting.

The report is the culmination of a process set in motion in June 2020 by the ƽ��һФͼ to learn from the insight and lived experiences of students, staff, families and community partners – particularly people affected by systemic racism. The process included extensive engagement and is part of the broader goal of supporting learning and working environments where everyone feels welcome, safe, and respected.

A third-party engagement firm called The Co-Laboratorio that specializes in anti-racism, equity and diversity work was contracted in December 2021 to gather arm’s length information through deeper conversations. The firm presented their interim findings at the Board Meeting last May after having confidential interviews and conversations with staff, parents, and students. Co-Laboratorio facilitators shared the emerging themes they were seeing, such as: teacher diversity, capacity, and practice; curriculum and learning experience; student-to-student behaviours and relations; administration, policies, and procedures; partnerships and relationships – teachers, families, and community; as well as resources and support.

Trustees will hear Co-Laboratorio’s final report and recommendations at the Board Meeting on September 27. Click here to learn how to attend the public meeting at 7pm.

Scroll down to learn more about the full engagement process that led to this point, including the Anti-Racism Equity & Inclusion Survey��that was shared with all students, families, staff, and community partners in May 2021.