BURLINGTON, Vt. -
The Burlington School Board approved a new diversity strategy and policy Tuesday.
It's an issue the district has been dealing with heavily since students complained of racism earlier this year. Those harassment charges prompted anger across the city and the state.
Burlington school superintendent Jeanne Collins promised change.
"I'm excited about the progress we've made so far and it's only the first baby steps," says Collins.
Collins says more steps were taken by the school board Tuesday, including the approval of a strategy to tackle diversity issues.
The board members also heard about a new report that tracked student performance by race.
"Students of color actually have better attendance rates and greater participation in after school programs than white students. But there is an achievement gap in literacy and math," says Collins.
Collins says the report and the new strategy will help the district with concerns stemming from diversity.
Those in the audience, including teacher Reuben Jackson, say they agreed with the fight to end racism and other diversity problems in the schools.
"We are better than this. We are better than this," says Jackson.
The superintendent says this school year there have been more diversity-related complaints. She says that was expected because the more talk of diversity makes more people feel comfortable bringing their concerns forward.
