The Delta School District can do even more to combat racism, a local parent told the board of education.
Kate Henderson was one of several speakers at the school board’s budget input meeting Tuesday, saying the district needs to better equip educators when it comes to racism.
“I don’t think it’s been lost on anyone in here, especially what’s been happening in Ladner. My understanding of the budget is that there isn’t necessarily a position for somebody who can better help in this area in terms of anti-oppression and anti-racism education,” said Henderson.
Thanks to an increase in per-pupil funding, particularly for students in Indigenous and special needs categories, the district’s proposed operating budget has a small surplus of $63,000, while no cuts will made in any department.
However, Henderson said despite anti-racism forums in Delta, she’s concerned educators need help in dealing with the issue appropriately.
“I find that when it comes to anti-racist education, there are a lot of different ways going about it and I particularly feel as someone who has done education for a good half-dozen years, specifically on anti-racism education on my own, I feel as an educator it’s a lot to ask for the Delta school educators to do a lot of that work on their own. They need someone at the school district level to help them out,” she said.
“I’m concerned that in Delta there’s too many people, adults, who don’t see a problem, and I’m really worried that’s going to trickle down to the kids. I’m already sensing that,” Henderson added.
School board chair Laura Dixon noted a motion put forward at the B.C. School Trustees Association, which she believes will pass, would have the association call on the province to amend and strengthen its anti-racism strategy.
Speaker Rhiannon Bennett, a former Delta school trustee, agreed with Henderson’s points. Noting a lot of students are not being served in Delta with the provincial dollars geared toward Indigenous students, Bennett also talked about the need to have more First Nations staff.
Ian Reade, representing CUPE Local 1091 support workers, talked about the need to bolster the number of maintenance staff, noting current staff members are being stretched while too many casual workers are being lost to other districts that offer job security and benefits. He also talked about a lack of support for education assistants.
Delta Teachers’ Association president Susan Yao raised several concerns, including telling the board the district still has inadequate support for teachers that have students with complex needs.
Delta District Parent Advisory Council chair Joe Muego described the operating budget as largely a “maintenance budget” that keeps the status quo, but isn’t sustainable.
“There will be a time when the well finally runs dry,” he said.
