From: The Peterborough Examiner, A4
Date: February 22, 2008
Re: "Turn off the immigration tap before it's too late" Letters Feb. 13, 2008 (Port Hope Evening Guide)
As the chairperson of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, and fellow trustee of this letter's author, Gordon Gilchrist, I feel compelled to respond to the assertions he has voiced.
For while Mr. Gilchrist has put forward his
views as a citizen of
Without reservation, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board values equity, diversity, inclusiveness and the dignity and humanity of each individual in our policies, practices, programs and interactions. We are committed to helping all people develop their strength and potential as human beings. This includes students, teachers, principals, support staff, volunteers, trustees and individuals and groups in the community.
We are representative of the many voices and faces of the global community. We are an organization made up of people who speak a variety of languages, practise and participate in many cultures, hold different beliefs and have numerous abilities and disabilities. As we go about our day-to-day activities, we honour the many similarities and differences we experience. This is often owing to the richness of diverse perspectives that result from gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation, ability and socioeconomic means.
A number of structures exist within the board to support the advancement of equity, diversity and inclusiveness.
Our Equity & Diversity Committee is a staff advisory committee made up of representatives from all employee groups as well as trustees. Its work is complemented by that of the Special Education Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Native Issues. There also exists within our board a full-time Equity & Diversity and Character Development Adviser.
This position contributes to educational excellence by working with staff, students, trustees, school communities and Board partners to achieve and ensure equity of opportunity and access.
We have undertaken a number of measures that reflect our core value of respect for the dignity of all humans. These include but are not limited to: the creation and distribution of an Equity and Diversity Calendar; ongoing anti-discrimination training for staff and students; and, participation in community forums that draw attention to the needs of marginalized communities.
Finally, we are pleased that planned revisions to our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy received positive feedback from community groups and stakeholders.
This served to reinforce our view that practising the principles of equity, valuing diversity and inclusion is integral to student success, meaningful parent and community involvement, and the effectiveness of the board's role within the communities it serves.
DIANE LLOYD, chairperson, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board