School board holds first reading of revised racial equity policy and separate land-acknowledgement policy

The South Washington County Schools board held a first reading May 8 of several revised policies, including a rewritten racial equity and inclusion policy (102.1) and a new indigenous land-acknowledgement policy (908.1). The item was presented as an information item; the board did not vote on the policies at the meeting.

Superintendent Julie Nielsen told the board the seven policies presented had been revised to reflect "updates in Minnesota statute, definition changes, legal references, and cross references," and noted the district’s policy committee and district directors reviewed the changes before bringing them to the board.

Nut Graf: The policies drew extended board discussion and public interest at the first reading. The rewritten 102.1 policy narrows its focus to racial equity and includes language on "anti-racism" and systems-level change; members of the board and community pressed for definitions, examples and the rationale for…