Brevard school board discusses NAACP resolutions to address racial bias in education
The Brevard County School Board at a Wednesday workshop discussed a number of NAACP resolutions to increase equity for black and other minority students.
The resolutions — developed primarily for state and federal lawmakers and agencies, and supported by the organization's local Brevard chapters — call on government leaders at all levels to support policy changes intended to reduce systemic racial inequalities in education.
The resolutions encourage leaders to:
- Review statistical data and research and to mandate training to eliminate racial bias in the legal and education systems.
- Conduct research on black youth suicide and develop a plan of action to address suicide prevention and awareness and disparities in mental health.
- Develop and implement a "comprehensive, experiential approach to teaching civics," which includes encouraging children to participate in school government; developing creative ways to engage students with government and the U.S. Constitution; and teaching them to participate in civic activities, including voting, legislative research and filing civil rights claims.
- De-prioritize standardized testing in 2020-21 and dedicate the school year to recouping educational progress lost to COVID-19.
- Develop legislation to ensure the regulation and equitable distribution of Parent Teacher Association donations and fundraising between public schools.
The changes would help break the so-called "school-to-prison pipeline," a pattern of differential treatment toward black students in America (especially involving school discipline) that increases their likelihood of ending up in the criminal justice system, the NAACP said.
School Board members and Brevard Superintendent Mark Mullins expressed general support for the resolutions, which come at a boiling point in racial tensions and nationwide protests following the May 25 death of George Floyd.
Floyd's death, along with the recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, Georgia, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, have reignited a long-standing national debate over systemic racism and the treatment of African Americans by police.
Mullins noted the district has made moves to redress racial inequalities even before the current unrest, including the development and expansion of courses on African American history and planned racial bias training, originally scheduled for this month, but moved to September due to COVID-19.
But in an impassioned, impromptu statement, he said it was clear it wasn't enough.
"You know this has been an area I've wanted to lead and champion for our community," he said. "I would defer to our black leaders, our black moms and dads, our kids, and say do you feel that way? I'm not prepared to say they would say yes. Because we can do more. We must do more."
Mullins said he had spent Tuesday meeting with principals to listen and share his own "personal journey" in the weeks following Floyd's death.
"I felt personally and even professionally, it was necessary to take the time to understand better," he went on. "Because I don't know that I understand all I could or should."
"I don't have the answers yet," Mullins said. "I believe that we are community that can come together and we can work toward them. Not can. We must, and we will."
School Board Chairwoman Misty Belford said the resolutions, which board member Tina Descovich brought to the board via South Brevard NAACP President James Minus, were not up for immediate action, but represented "ongoing communication" with the community over how the district and the board can better serve its minority students.
Minus told FLORIDA TODAY he was "hopeful" the board would eventually adopt the proposals.
"It's important for our kids to know all aspects of history," he said. "I know (the school district is) doing it somewhat, but we want to make sure it's at the forefront."
The Brevard County School District has faced allegations of racial bias in the past. In 2013, the North Brevard NAACP filed four complaints with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, charging the district with disproportionately suspending black students and failing to appropriately hire or promote black teachers and principals.
As of 2020, the complaints were still under investigation, North Brevard chapter President William Gary said.
Eric Rogers is the education watchdog reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Please consider subscribing to support important local news on education, business, crime and other topics you care about.
Contact Rogers at 321-242-3717 or firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow him on Twitter @EricRogersFT.