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PUSD Superintendent Says District Reaffirms Commitment to Diversity After Chauvin Verdict

Published on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | 1:53 pm
 

On the heels of the guilty verdicts handed down in the trial of the Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd, Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent (PUSD) Brian McDonald said there is still much work to be done. 

“Although the guilty verdict in the State of Minnesota’s trial against former police officer Derek Chauvin provides a measure of closure, our work together to fix inequities is far from over,” McDonald said in a statement.

On Tuesday, a jury in Minnesota convicted Chauvin of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the May 25 death of Floyd, a Black motorist who died after Chauvin choked him by placing his knee on the back of his neck for more than nine minutes.

The incident sparked riots and unrest across the country.  One month after the incident, the PUSD School Board adopted Resolution 2566 stating the district’s commitment to Black students and addressing issues of equity. 

“In the past year, we have pursued improvements on multiple fronts, including professional development for our teachers and staff; the creation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team; the launch of the Black Parent University; student, parent, and staff focus groups; and the creation of the Student Think Tank and Leadership Team, which brings together students with a diversity of voices to inform PUSD’s instructional and curricular decisions,” McDonald said. 

According to McDonald, the verdict affirms the district’s resolve to continue further exploring all aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“We are committed to preparing our students to be civically engaged, resilient, and productive citizens of the 21st century,” he said. 

Because the trial and a number of current events in the news may be disturbing to students and staff, PUSD’s mental health experts are being made available for consultation.

For more information, contact Mental Health Manager Lara Choulakian at (626) 396-3600 x 88233, or write to choulakian.lara@pusd.us. 

Support is available for PUSD employees through the Employee Assistance Program.

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