PITTSBURGH -- The North Hills School District and Board of Education has released a statement following the death of George Floyd and other similar incidents of racial inequities.
Board of Education President Allison Mathis opened June’s committee meeting Thursday night by reading the following remarks on behalf of board members and Superintendent Dr. Patrick Mannarino:
"Over the past week, our nation and community have been grappling with the tragic death of George Floyd and other similar incidents of racism. There is a lot of pain, anxiety, hurt and fear.
The path forward requires open and honest conversations.
North Hills is committed to being part of a larger systematic change to confront racism and inequality of any type within our neighborhoods and community, but especially in education. As a district we stand in solidarity against any and all acts of racism, disrespect and inequitable treatment of persons of color. As such, we are committed to confronting racism to create a more inclusive and just world.
We acknowledge that this is a journey. This is not a one-time statement but an ongoing conversation and the beginning of making changes as we all work together to tackle these issues. As such, North Hills will be:
- Creating a diverse task force to address these issues, ensuring that we include and center the voices of groups who have faced marginalization
- Publishing a list of anti-racism references and resources for our families
Continuing to review all our policies and guidelines including our use-of-force policy
- Identifying achievement gaps and coming up with action-plans to close them
Encouraging potential teachers, administration and all of those interested in education to apply to North Hills as a start in creating a more diverse personnel.
- Partnering with community groups, families, and leaders that represent the racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity in our district
- Partnering with HBCUs to gain a better understanding of needs and goals for both North HIHills students and representatives of HBCUs
Know that we are committed to learning, growing and making the changes necessary to fight prejudice, racism and inequality. We will learn how to do better so that we can do what we do best, teach and educate our future leaders."
Visit the racial equality section on our website for a complete list of anti-racism resources for families.