Dear SPUSD Families, Faculty, Staff, and Administrators,

With today’s announcement of a guilty verdict on all three charges in the murder trial of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin, I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the emotions you may be feeling. We are continuously seeing violence as a manifestation of structural racism that disproportionately impacts people of color. The trauma of witnessing and experiencing acts of hatred impacts students, staff, and parents and is a reminder that much work still needs to be done.

SPUSD is committed to establishing and sustaining a community that listens to, uplifts, and celebrates our students of color. The newly-developed SPUSD Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is committed to reviewing the District’s policies and practices - making sure that the practices recognize and value the diversity, backgrounds and abilities of all students.

There isn’t one correct way to talk about race and police brutality, but it is important that students have a safe learning space for these conversations to occur whether at home or at school. We will offer the time and space to discuss these issues as we strongly believe that student voices must be heard and validated.

You may find these links helpful to assist you with this topic and process: Common Sense - How to Talk with Kids About Racism and Racial Violence; a quick guide to Talking Race with Young Children from National Public Radio (NPR). Please continue to listen to and engage with our young people as they process the complex issues of race, bias, and police violence. SPUSD counselors are also available to help as needed.

Thank you for your support.

Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent