The Butler Area School Board has taken the first step towards modifying a couple of policies that deal with nondiscrimination in classroom practices as well as curriculum.
At their regular meeting earlier this week, the board approved the first reading of an addition to policy 103 that deals with nondiscrimination in the school as well as a similar addition to policy 110 that deals with nondiscrimination contained in instructional materials.
The exact language proposed was as a result of collaboration between the district solicitor and Superintendent Dr. Brian White, which read in part:
“All instructional programs approved by the district should include curriculum instruction activities consistent with the principle that all people are equal, regardless of their real or perceived attributes, characteristics, or differences such as race, color, age, etc…And that no group of people are inherently good or bad, or more or less capable of others. The BASD strives to provide quality of educational opportunities to every student in the district, which will empower them to pursue their desired postsecondary education or career.”
This action has been taken as a result of a concern raised by Board member Bill Halle about the possibility that Critical Race Theory could be introduced in local schools. Board member Gary Shingleton voted against the addition because he feels that the current policies already address this issue of concern. Dr. White further explains the addition:
“An argument could be made that you could find every element of that somewhere in our policy, but this pulls it together and articulates it in a set paragraph,” White said. “I don’t think it changes anything in the policy it just clearly states that we as a district believe that all people are equal.”
The Board is expected to approve a second reading of the revised policy at their regular meeting next month at which time the policy will go into effect.
