Proviso Township High Schools Cesar Rodriguez

Community Outreach & Public Relations Director

District 209 crodriguez@pths209.org
(708) 835-6186

8601 West Roosevelt Road Noemi Mendieta

Forest Park, IL 60130 Communications Specialist
nmendieta@phts209.org
(708)338-5933

Immediate Release
June 18, 2020

RESOLUTION ON COMMITMENT TO BLACK STUDENTS AND BLACK LIVES

Maywood, Il—The Proviso Township High Schools District 209 Board of Education at their regular
meeting at Proviso East High School on Tuesday, June 16, passed a resolution on the commitment to Black
students and Black lives.

“We don’t only want something that is on paper, but something that has action,” said Superintendent
Jesse Rodriguez. “President Alexander and I talked about something that has substance because our students
and families deserve more. This is the right thing to do.”

“The Board of Education is committed to continuing to address systemic racism and ensuring the
academic achievement of Black students,” Board President Rodney Alexander said at the regular meeting.
“We vigorously acknowledge and assert that Black lives matter.”

The resolution adopted by the Board of Education expresses their affirmation that Black lives matter and
announces the creation of an advisory council under the direction of the Student Achievement and School
Innovation Committee (SASI). The council is comprised of Board representation, community members, parents,
educators, and students. The group will identify issues of discrimination and inequities and provide
recommendations to address their findings.

The Board also announced that March 5, 2021, will be a day to honor the life and memory of George
Floyd and to celebrate Black lives.

The following is the text of the resolution in English and Spanish:

###

“ONE TEAM, ONE GOAL, ONE PROVISO”

 PROVISO TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOLS DISTRICT 209
RESOLUTION ON THE COMMITMENT TO
BLACK STUDENTS AND BLACK LIVES
Whereas, Proviso Township High Schools District 209 (PTHS D209) is committed to the success of every student
in every school, and that our mission is to provide the highest quality education, where learning, leadership, service,
and research-based practices ensure equitable and meaningful opportunities for all students; and

Whereas, PTHS D209 has a shared guiding principle of equity. In PTHS D209, we celebrate our diversity and will
provide the necessary resources and supports to eliminate barriers to success and foster a more equitable future for
Black students; and
Whereas, Black people in America have historically experienced enslavement, oppression, segregation, and
discrimination; and
Whereas, historically, when Black people have fought for a more democratic society, the lives of all people have
improved. Each time barriers to Black people’s potential have been erected, our whole society has suffered; and
Whereas, educators know that each of our students has different needs and that none of their lives end at our
classroom doors. It is especially important for Black students to know that we value them, no matter what the legal
system and actions tell them; and
Whereas, the Board recognizes that general education research and practice have created a picture that
overemphasizes the deficits of Black children, their families and community instead of celebrating them for the unique
assets they bring with them into schools and providing them the opportunity to access more rigorous grade level
classes and materials; and
Whereas, PTHS D209 administration and employees take responsibility for actions, decisions, and statements that
impact the education community and the public; and
Whereas, problems in our schools mirror those in our society. Society is plagued with poverty and growing
inequality. For our schools to be safe and centers of respect for the educational process, students, staff, parents, and
community must all come together now for the betterment of our students’ future; and
Whereas, PTHS D209 seeks to address institutionalized racism in our schools and communities by supporting and
facilitating professional development work related to race and other challenging topics; and
Whereas, numerous and diverse community groups throughout Proviso Township wish to support inclusive
educational services with reflection, dialogue, and actions that support the understandings and affirmations that Black
lives matter; and
Whereas, the Board of Education is committed to continuing to address systemic racism and ensuring the academic
achievement of Black students.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Board of Education vigorously acknowledges and asserts,
Black lives matter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT PTHS D209 develop an advisory council under the direction of the Student
Achievement and School Innovation Committee (SASI) — comprising of Board of Education Committee
Representation, community, parents, educators, and students — to assist in identifying where issues of inequity,
discrimination, over-identification for special education services, disproportionate experience of suspension and other
discipline, and reduced access to opportunity may exist, and to make program, curriculum and policy
recommendations to address those issues; and
THAT, a report will be presented on an annual basis summarizing work and events throughout each school describing
work of the SASI Committee as it pertains to this resolution; and
THAT, the Board of Education does hereby proclaim, March 5, 2021 as a day to honor the life and memory of George
Floyd and to celebrate Black lives; and
THAT, a copy of this resolution be will be kept in the Board of Education archives.

Submitted on June 16, 2020

Rodney Alexander
Claudia Medina
President
Vice President

Amanda J. Grant
Secretary

Arbdella “Della” Patterson Theresa L. Kelly

Member Member

Samuel Valtierrez Nathan “Ned” Wagner

Member Member
 PROVISO TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOLS DISTRICT 209
UN PROPÓSITO SOBRE EL COMPROMISO A LOS ESTUDIANTES Y A LAS VIDAS DE
LOS AFROAMERICANOS

Considerando que, Proviso Township High Schools District 209 (PTHS D209) está comprometido al éxito de cada
estudiante en cada escuela, y nuestra misión es proveer una educación de la más alta calidad, donde el aprendizaje,
liderazgo, servicio y las practicas basadas en la investigación nos garanticen oportunidades equitativas y significativas
para todos los estudiantes; y
Considerando que, PTHS D209 comparte una guía de valores de equidad. En PTHS D209, celebramos la diversidad
y ofreceremos los recursos y apoyo necesarios para eliminar las barreras al éxito y fomentar un futuro más equitativo
para estudiantes afroamericanos; y
Considerando que, los afroamericanos en Estados Unidos históricamente han vivido la esclavitud, opresión,
segregación y discriminación; y
Considerando que, históricamente, cuando la gente afroamericana ha luchado por una sociedad más democrática, la
vida de todos ha mejorado. Cada vez que las barreras son erigidas para detener el potencial de personas
afroamericanas, toda nuestra sociedad ha sufrido; y
Considerando que, los educadores reconocen que cada uno de nuestros estudiantes tienen diferentes necesidades y
que las vidas de ellos no terminan al salir de la escuela. En particular es importante que los estudiantes afroamericanos
sepan que los valoramos, sin importar lo que dicen las acciones y el sistema legal; y
Considerando que, la Junta Educativa reconoce que la investigación educativa general y practica ha creado una
imagen que enfatiza los déficits de niños afroamericanos, sus familias y comunidad en vez de celebrar sus dones
extraordinarios que traen a las escuelas y proveerles la oportunidad para acceder a clases y materiales más rigurosos a
un nivel más alto; y
Considerando que, la administración de PTHS D209 y los empleados se comprometen a tomar responsabilidad de
acciones, decisiones y declaraciones que impactan la comunidad educativa y el público; y
Considerando que, los problemas en nuestras escuelas reflejan nuestra sociedad. La sociedad está plagada de pobreza
y desigualdad creciente. Para que nuestras escuelas estén seguras y lugares de respeto para el proceso educativo,
estudiantes, personal, padres, y comunidad tenemos que unirnos ahora para el mejoramiento del futuro de nuestros
alumnos; y
Considerando que, PTHS D209 busca abordar el tema de racismo institucional en nuestras escuelas y comunidades
apoyando y facilitando desarrollo profesional relacionado al racismo y otros retos; y
Considerando que, numerosos y diversos grupos comunitarios en Proviso Township desean apoyar servicios
educativos inclusivos que ofrezcan reflexión, dialogo y acciones que apoyen los entendimientos y afirmaciones de que
las vidas afroamericanas son importantes; y
Considerando que, la Junta Educativa está comprometida a continuar abordando el racismo sistemático y asegurar el
éxito académico de los estudiantes afroamericanos.
AHORA POR LO TANTO QUE SE RESUELVE QUE, la Junta Educativa vigorosamente reconoce y afirma, la
vida de los afroamericanos importa; y
QUE SE RESUELVA AÚN MÁS QUE, PTHS D209 desarrolle un concilio asesor bajo la dirección de Student
Achievement and School Innovation Committee (SASI por sus siglas en ingles) –compuesto del Comité de la Junta
Educativa, comunidad, padres, educadores y estudiantes— para asistir en identificar los temas de inequidad,
discriminación, identificación sobrevalorada de servicios especiales educativos, experiencias desproporcionadas de
suspensión y otras disciplinas, y reducir acceso a oportunidades existentes, y para hacer programas, planes de estudio
y políticas que aborden estos temas; y
QUE, un reporte será presentado anualmente resumiendo el trabajo y eventos en cada escuela describiendo el trabajo
de SASI en relación con esta resolución; y
QUE, la Junta Educativa proclama por la presente que, el 5 de marzo del 2021 como el día para honrar la vida y legado
de George Floyd y celebrar las vidas de los afroamericanos; y
QUE, una copia de esta resolución estará archivada en los archivos de la Junta Educativa.

Presentado: 16 de junio del 2020

Rodney Alexander
Claudia Medina
Presidente
Vice Presidente

Amanda J. Grant
Secretaria

Arbdella “Della” Patterson Theresa L. Kelly

Miembro Miembro

Samuel Valtierrez Nathan “Ned” Wagner

Miembro Miembro