Message From South Washington County Schools' Superintendent Keith Jacobus About Death Of George Floyd

Press release from South Washington County Schools:

May 29, 2020

Dear South Washington County Schools Community,

"I am writing to you with overwhelming feelings of sorrow, outrage and dismay following the actions that led to the death of George Floyd.

In our school district, approximately 30 percent of our students are students of color, and we have heard from many of them and their parents about the racial challenges and hardships they have faced both in and outside our schools.

Our actions need to go beyond celebrating diversity in our schools or adding equity to our strategic plan. Those actions are not enough to guarantee the safety of our Black students and their families in our schools and communities. We must continue our conversations about race that includes examining of our practices and removing obstacles that contribute to systemic inequities.

Most importantly, we cannot remain silent. As a school community, we are here for each other and more than ever we need to reach out to our friends and neighbors and show the compassion, empathy and humanity everyone deserves.

It is challenging to connect and provide emotional support in the same way during distance learning, but our counselors, social workers and psychologists continue to work hard to provide support to our students. Please contact your principal if your child needs additional support. I have also included some resources below from the Minnesota Department of Education on how to talk with children about violence, racism and traumatic events.

We will continue to ask for your support as we work to make South Washington County Schools a district where all feel welcomed. We owe it to our community. I want our students, staff and families of color to know that we care, you are important and you are not alone."

Sincerely,

Keith Jacobus
Superintendent

Resources:

• How to Talk About Traumatic Events and Tragedies
• Teaching About Race, Racism and Police Violence
• Resources on Trauma for Caregivers and Families
• Trauma Guides
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence
• Racial Equity Resource Directory
• A Practitioner’s Guide to Educating Traumatized Children

This press release was produced by South Washington County Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.