African Canadian Advisory Committee pushes TCDSB to develop anti-black racism equity policies and Initiatives

BY PAUL JUNOR

The African Canadian Advisory Committee has been vital to TCDSB since 2017. The Statement of Principle of the ACAC reads, “It is committed to advancing the interests of students, parents, staff and stakeholders within the African diaspora, The group has a strong desire to ensure access in areas of black students achievement and well-being, black parental engagement within the operations of Catholic educational service delivery, based on data that enhances culturally and responsive pedagogical practice.”

This overriding philosophy has shaped the committee since its formation. The ACAC, “Believes that the development and implementation contained in the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy is an appropriate conduit to navigate the challenges of a school board in its attempts to address the needs of the African Diaspora.” (tcdsb.org/For COMMUNITY/Community Relations/Advisory Committees).

It was in 2008 that the provincial government proposed the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy which contained eight areas of focus: inclusive of Ministry objectives, action plans, expected outcomes, resources, timelines, responsibility, accountability, and reporting.

The ACAC has been chaired by Ken Jeffers, who worked for the City of Toronto and has since retired, as well as long-time community members, Kirk Mark, who served as Senior Coordinator of Community Relations. At its meeting on November 8^th, 2017, Ken Jeffers raised the important question, “What are the barriers that have hindered the TCDSB to move forward?” There were discussions around the Anti-black Racism Secretariat and the work of Patrick Case on a method for the collection of identity-based data collection. The ACAC has met fifteen times since its first meeting on June 14^th, 2017.

At the January 31^st, 2018 meeting, Ken expressed frustrations that after forty years the TCDSB was still having difficulties formulating an equity strategy. There were concerns expressed about setting goals with respect to dealing with anti-black racism in the TCDSB to ensure that there is an equitable outcome.

At the June 21^st, 2018 meeting, there was the announcement that a TCDSB’s Equity Plan would be launched, which would incorporate Catholic values and ethos. At the August 27^th, 2020 meeting there was a discussion of the motions that were presented by Student Trustee at the June 2020 Board Meeting. It was revealed that there will be the creation of a Race Relations Committee.

On October 22^nd, 2020, there was a special meeting to discuss the Terms of Reference and support that was given by the Board of Trustees to go forward with strategies to Dismantling Anti-black racism (DABR). It was subsequently on November 6^th, 2020 that the Director of the TCDSB released, “TCDSB’s commitment to Addressing Anti-black Racism,” in which he shared his personal vision of how he plans to execute an anti-racist and anti-oppressive approach.

Derek Chen, Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, Indigenous Education and Community Relations was charged with taking the ACAC’s ideas to the TCDSB.

Unfortunately, in March 2021 Kirk Mark resigned from the ACAC. His statement of resignation reads, “I resigned from the TCDSB’s ACAC because I did not want to be a distraction. The main issue of systemic anti-black racism does not appear to be the central focus of the school board, namely addressing: the concerns of black students, parents, staff and stakeholders in a timely manner, notwithstanding the current articulated performative language through segmented programmes.”

In addition, Ken Jeffers has also resigned from the ACAC. In the meantime, the TCDSB is recruiting members for the Race Relations Committee (RCC). It is expected to have ten members consisting of: trustees, staff, parents/guardians and students. Its mandate is “To advise the Board on policies, programs, and services, which support student achievement and well-being within the Catholic Mission/Vision of the TCDSB and Catholic Social Teachings.”