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Community members, NAACP and staff urge board to advance second reading of policy banning the n-word
Summary
NAACP leaders, staff and students urged the East Side board to move forward with a second reading of a policy explicitly banning the n-word and specifying disciplinary steps for its use on campus.
Several community members, including representatives of the San Jose Silicon Valley NAACP, district staff and student leaders, urged the board to proceed with a second reading and eventual adoption of a policy that explicitly prohibits the n-word and clarifies disciplinary and educational responses.
James Staten, first vice president of San Jose Silicon Valley NAACP, asked the board to schedule and conduct a second reading of Board Policy 5137.1 to address the "rampant use" of the n-word on district campuses. Student advocates from the Black Student Union testified that protections similar to those provided for other groups are needed to protect Black students from repeated harassment; several staff members also submitted written comments asking that the policy be reconsidered and adopted.
Board response and status: Trustees acknowledged the written and oral comments and said the remarks were recorded for the official record under agenda item 10.o. No second reading or vote occurred at the Sept. 11 meeting; the board said it would consider next steps and that staff will provide the updated policy text in future agenda materials.
Provenance: public-comment segment beginning at 01:19:55 and subsequent written comments presented to the board.
