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 specific wording. A separate land-acknowledgement policy was created after language was removed from 102.1 and will stand alone as policy 908.1, the superintendent said.

Julie Nielsen, superintendent, summarized the package and said the 102.1 policy was first introduced in 2020 and had been substantially rewritten to remove duplication and clarify definitions. "This policy has been so significantly written that someone asked for the red line and they said, could you just give us the clean copy," Nielsen said.

Board member Ryan Clark led a series of detailed questions about definitions, purpose and outcomes. Clark asked how the policy would eliminate "predictable student achievement patterns" and sought evidence of impact after four years with an equity policy in place. James (district staff who worked on the policy) responded that the district uses multiple measures — academic outcomes, discipline data, restorative processes and family engagement — to monitor shifts in disparities and that the policy aligns with state achievement-and-integration goals. "When we are looking at, support of closing achievement gaps or opportunity gaps, As we're looking at, seeking to close opportunity or achievement gaps, it's right in line with state legislation and achievement and integration," James said.

Several board members and the superintendent said the policy package had been developed with input from multiple groups, including a Native American parent advisory and student advisory committees. District staff said the Native American parent advisory drafted the land-acknowledgement language now codified as policy 908.1.

Discussion during the first reading covered definitions in the racial equity policy — including equity, anti-racism, culture, prejudice and the policy’s scope — and whether the district can measure or enforce the policy’s aims. James and Nielsen repeatedly framed the policy as one tool among many to respond to community concerns about unequal outcomes and as a mandate to identify systems that produce disparities, rather than as a vehicle to label individual people as racist.

Public comment rules were restated: speakers may comment on the policies on the agenda that night only; the board will not respond during the comment period; character assaults or specific complaints naming staff or students are not permitted. The board allowed up to 30 minutes for public comment and up to three speakers per policy under the published meeting rules.

No formal board action, vote or adoption took place at the meeting; the presentation was labeled "first reading" and the board will continue review, allow public comment consistent with meeting rules, and consider further steps at future meetings.

The board scheduled its next business meeting for May 22 and a workshop for June 12, both at the district service center.