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Equity Advisory Council

The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District is committed to providing access to an excellent education for each student. As one of the fastest growing school districts in Pierce County, our demographics are changing at a rapid pace. This change requires our ongoing focus and a strategic approach to the increasing diversity in our schools and communities.

Members of the Equity Task Force taken in 2019.

Through our Equity Advisory Council (EAC), we are continuing to draw together key stakeholders to examine equity in our schools and identify ways that will improve the educational experience and sense of belonging for students.

  • Purpose: Examine issues surrounding racial equity within SBLSD and identify ways that will improve the educational experience for every student.

  • Member Role: Contribute individual perspective on racial equity and provide input that will help direct future actions and decisions of the District on equity-related issues.

Work Groups:

  • Community Celebrations
  • Curriculum
  • Discipline
  • Retention/Recruitment
  • Staff Professional Development

Equity Advisory Council Background

The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District created an Equity Advisory Council in 2018, which started out with 25 staff and community members who were charged with the mission of examining the growing diversity within our schools, as well as processes necessary to ensure equitable educational outcomes for all students. Now in its fourth year, the Equity Advisory Council has grown to 88 members and is made up of parents, staff, students, community members, city officials and school board members.

Advisory council members have a background and interest and commitment in addressing equity, as well as culturally responsive schools and communities. They represent a diverse group of local parents and families, as well as school administration, staff, and our Board of Directors. Advisory committee work and meetings are guided and facilitated by Equity Program Management consultants from the Puget Sound Educational Service District.
 

Equity Advisory Council Purpose

The Equity Advisory Council commits to transforming the culture and climate of the SBLSD so that every adult and student in the district acts upon our shared values of empathy, inclusion, acceptance and success for ALL students.

We will identify the content knowledge, policies, practices and procedures needed to effectively prevent bias; to recognize and address bias when it occurs; to alleviating the harmful impacts of bias; and  provide for the restoration of good and trusting relationships in our community. 

We will empower students to be leaders in that process.

An understanding of the history and current dynamics of racism and other forms of oppression is critical knowledge which will allow all students to be successful both in SBLSD and post-graduation, and will allow them to have better opportunities and relationships with diverse people throughout their lives.

We are all responsible for the complete education of our students.

We commit to ensuring that school district employees and students know, are aware and have the skills they need to identify bias, interrupt it where it exists and provide remedies that restore trust and relationships.

We will educate ourselves so that we can engage our community in the transformation we need to make SBLSD a place where all individuals feel safe, valued, loved, heard and seen.

We commit to make our district a place where individuals can have pride in themselves and achieve their fullest potential.

To learn more about the Equity Advisory Committee, please contact sblsd_equity@sumnersd.org.