Falls Church City Public School Board Proclamation 03-16 Diversity and Inclusion

WHEREAS, incidents of bigotry, harassment and intimidation are reported to have risen nationally; and WHEREAS, Falls Church residents, parents, and students have expressed concern; and WHEREAS, maintaining an inclusive community is a central priority for schools and community; Now, THEREFORE, the Falls Church City Public School Board proclaims: The mission of the Falls Church City Public Schools, in partnership with our families and community, requires that we value diversity and promote lifelong learning and responsible citizenship and provide students with the foundation for success in a global community. The policy of the Falls Church City Schools has been and remains that

Equal educational opportunities shall be available for all students, without regard to race, national origin, religion, color, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or marital or parental status, No student shall be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity conducted by the division, and The School Board is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free from unlawful sexual harassment and unlawful harassment based on an individual’s race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran or member of the uniformed services. Falls Church through its curriculum and approach seeks to develop learners who share the traits of the International Baccalaureate learner profile – students will be Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced and Reflective – traits that make clear that students, teachers, administrators and staff will respect themselves and others, regardless of who they are, how they appear, or where they were born. Regardless of what else is happening in Falls Church, Virginia, the United States, or the world, we want to take the opportunity to reaffirm our long-standing commitment to equality, inclusion, and diversity. We are committed to being a community that celebrates diversity and inclusion. The Falls Church City Schools will remain a welcoming and respectful place for all people - all faiths, all races, all cultures, all sexual orientations, and all backgrounds.

Signed,

__________________________________ Michael Ankuma

___________________________________ Justin Castillo

__________________________________ Erin Gill

____________________________________ John Lawrence

__________________________________ Phil Reitinger

____________________________________ Margaret Ward

__________________________________ Lawrence Webb

____________________________________ Gabriel Perez, Student Representative