Racial Climate in Monroe County Schools

The Mission of the NAACP is to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.

In alignment with this mission, the Monroe County NAACP applauds and supports the students who have courageously brought attention to highly disturbing instances of racism in MCCSC schools and values the work being done by MCCSC to address these issues.  The adoption of Anti-Racism Policy 5518 by the MCCSC Board on February 28th, 2023 is an important step in establishing and maintaining a racially safe and inclusive school environment.

Relevant resources are listed below so that they are easily accessible for those who want to learn more.  

Please check back periodically for updates (the newest content appears last on the page) and send suggestions for other resources you feel should be included to mcbnaacb@gmail.com.

May 24, 2022 - Students speak during public comment segment of MCCSC Board of School Trustees meeting.  Comments begin at timestamp 12:23 in the video recording.

May 25, 2022 - Indiana Public Media Article:  Students ask MCCSC to address racial discrimination, bullying

June 28, 2022 - Students share their concerns at .Branch Executive Committee meeting.

August 23, 2022 - Announcement of Student Equity Ambassadors program at MCCSC Board of School Trustees meeting.  Comments begin at timestamp 1:05 in the video recording.   

October 4, 2022 - Students attend Branch General Body Meeting to share experiences with Student Equity Ambassadors program and discuss how the Branch can support their efforts for increasing transparency and sharing power with respect to the program and outcomes.

December 12, 2022 - First interview with Students Who Act Generously, Grow, and Earn Respect (S.W.A.G.G.E.R) Award winners on WFHB's Bring it On!  This interview covers the racism the students experienced and witnessed at MCCSC schools, the actions they took, and their experiences working on the new policy as part of the Student Equity Ambassadors program.  This interview was recorded before Racial Equity Policy 5518 was released.  See part two of the interview series on December 19, 2022

December 13, 2022 - Racial Equity Policy 5518 received its first reading at the MCCSC Board of Trustees meeting. In the video recording of the meeting, public comments related to the policy can be found at timestamps 16:22, 25:30, and 34:05;   Introduction of the policy development process, remarks by some of the student equity ambassadors, board member comments, and remarks from administrators begin at timestamp 48:24 

December 14, 2022 - Indiana Public Media Article: MCCSC considers racial equity.

December 16, 2022 -  Coverage on WTIU's Indiana NEWSDESK.

December 19, 2022 - Second interview with Students Who Act Generously, Grow, and Earn Respect (S.W.A.G.G.E.R) Award winners on WFHB's Bring it On!  This interview was recorded after the December 13th Board meeting.  See part one of the interview series on December 12, 2022.

January 13, 2023 - Press release from Monroe County NAACP Urges Delay of Vote on MCCSC Racial Equity Policy. 
(Note, you may need to download the PDF file to use the embedded clickable links.)   Correction: The January 24th MCCSC Board of School Trustees meeting is at 6pm at the CoLab - 553 E Miller Drive, Bloomington.  (Time and location were incorrect in the press release.)

January 16, 2023 - Indiana Public Media Article:  NAACP says more review needed on MCCSC racial equity policy ending with the sentence:  "In an emailed statement Monday, MCCSC administration said it has met with NAACP officials and has committed to working with them to address their concerns."   

January 24, 2023 - MCCSC Board of School Trustees meeting.  6 p.m.  at CoLab, 553 E Miller Drive, Bloomington.   NAACP Branch President will make a statement during public comment segment.  Link to agenda.   Link to recording.  The vote on the policy was postponed.  Public comments, as well as the presentation on disciplinary disparity and followup comments from the Board may be of special interest. 

January 24, 2023 - Information posted by MCCSC on the development of the proposed Racial Equity Policy.  (Not sure date of post is correct.)

January 25, 2023 - Indiana Public Media article: MCCSC delays final reading of Racial Equity Policy 

January 27, 2023 - Coverage on WTIU's Indiana NEWSDESK, including excerpts from Jan 24 MCCSC Board meeting and interview with Branch President Maqubè Reese

February 9, 2023 - The Branch Education Subcommittee on Racial Climate in Monroe County Schools shared their recommended changes to draft Policy 5518 with the MCCSC Administration and Board. The recommendations will be available to the general public at this site on Tuesday, February 21st. MCCSC has indicated they can respond to the recommended changes by that date.

February 21, 2023 - The Branch Education Subcommittee on Racial Climate in Monroe County Schools shared their recommended changes to draft Policy 5518 with the general public.  MCCSC let us know earlier today that they are continuing to work on their response to the recommendations and should have that finished by Thursday, February 23rd.

February 23, 2023 - MCCSC Administration and Board posted an updated Board Policy 5518, which incorporates the recommended changes approved by their legal counsel. The Board plans to vote on the policy for a second reading and final approval at the February 28th MCCSC School Board meeting. 

The Monroe County NAACP Branch supports approval of the updated Board Policy 5518.

The MCCSC Board also directed their legal counsel to provide a copy of their guidance for those recommendations that were not adopted. We greatly appreciate this sharing of information as it helps us understand more fully the constraints on policy content and strengthens the foundation for ongoing collaboration.

February 28, 2023 - The MCCSC Board voted unanimously to approve the updated Anti-Racism Board Policy 5518. The Monroe County NAACP Branch supported approval of the updated policy and thanks the MCCSC Administration and Board for their efforts and vote. You can watch a recording of the Board meeting here. 

March 1, 2023 - Indiana Public Media Article: After several changes, MCCSC board passes anti-racism policy.

March 6, 2023 - WFHB's Bring it On!  MCCSC Board's Anti-Racism Policy.