GUELPH – The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) will be working toward amplifying student voices, lived experiences and social justice change as part of the board’s three-year equity plan.
The board presented its year-end progress report on the UGDSB three-year equity plan during a program committee meeting June 1.
Equity and inclusion lead Jessica Rowden, in collaboration with UGDSB staff and educators, presented the work on equity in the school board and future plans, also acknowledging the work being done by the individuals at the forefront of marginalization.
“It all centers around the feedback, research, the expertise of folks as they provide it to us,” she said.
The report provided updates on the UGDSB’s equity progress to date, divided into separate categories of approach, which included:
- identifying and naming bias, oppression and racism;
- build collaborative relationships;
- address and educate; and
- eliminate bias, oppression and racism.
The report outlined new initiatives and a continuation of current initiatives brought forward during the December equity presentation.
Rowden highlighted the new UGDSB Equity Accountability Audit, which was formerly referred to as the UGDSB Equity Walk. The new audit includes updated language and an alignment tool to highlight the emphasis on process and accountability across the board.
“It’s really important that as we shift from a walk to an accountability audit,” Rowden explained. “That we recognize that who’s involved in this work of assessing schools, assessing our system is a very diverse group of folks and that the work that they’re doing is about accountability to stakeholders in our system.”
Schools will be receiving the audit as a tool to help with an assessment of their learning spaces.
Rowden also outlined a new program, aimed at amplifying student voices and expertise.
“(We’re) really shifting a system to recognize the value of student voice as expertise, as information to inform our practice,” Rowden said.
“So that is moving us towards a new program we refer to as “UG Talks” which is our take on TED Talks, which would be a way to really amplify student voice, lived experience and passion for social justice change.”
“Another step we’ve taken in doing the work of increasing communication and transparency is looking at ways to better access and better communicate inclusive days through school board websites,” she added.
This would include switching over to a calendar compatible with Microsoft for school staff to assist in planning events for days of significance and importance to various groups.
Presentations were also provided by secondary curriculum lead Sandra Krtizer, supervisor of library and media services Jordan Graham, vice principal at Orangeville District Secondary School Janine Grin and educational assistant at Ken Danby Public School Sean Faulkner.
Rowden noted the report acts as a guide for the UGDSB in their work, but that they are very responsive to the work and recognize that some things they will be called to respond to may not be listed in it.
Trustees expressed their thanks and the motion was passed to receive the year-end report.
