Loveland City Schools adopt Statement on Diversity

by David Miller

Loveland, Ohio – At their meeting on April 20, the Loveland City Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The statement will be placed into the Board Manual and distributed to school administrators and all staff. After staff discussions, it will be “pushed out into classrooms” according to Superintendent, Bradley Neavin.

Board member Eileen Washburn  said before the vote, “I very much appreciate the work that was done. I hope it will be embraced and people really read it and act on it.” (read resolution below)

Speaking of the student experience Neavin said, “This goes well beyond the walls of the schools. This prepares students to go out into a broader world and to have a broader world view.”

The writing of the resolution was a collaboration between district leadership and the Loveland Diversity Advisory Board (DAB). “This resolution is the first step toward ensuring a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students while fostering cultural awareness and understanding,” said a statement issued by DAB after the approval.

Below is the discussion of the Board while adopting the diversity, equity, and inclusion policy:

Loveland City Schools Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

A comprehensive education in a free society develops persons who can think critically, engage in self-reflection, understand all cultures, live compassionately with others, and use their reflection and experiences to make sound judgments. As the great equalizer, education in a pluralistic society must strive to present varied events, activities and perceptions reflected in history, literature and other sources of humanity’s thought and expression. Therefore, the Loveland City School District commits unwavering support to diversity, equity, and inclusion of culture, thought, ideas and experiences.

LCSD seeks to ensure the growth of every individual in our sphere of influence by:

• Creating a safe & inclusive learning environment that provides equitable access for all members of the school community regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender identification or expression, sexual orientation, ability, language, family structure or economic status.
• Providing access to materials and experiences which express diversity of perspective, broaden students’ worldviews, and better equip them to live, thrive, and contribute positively to a diverse world.
• Engaging in culturally competent practices that target core areas: value of diversity, cultural awareness, understanding the dynamics of cultural interactions, and taking cultural knowledge and adapting it to diversity and learning.

The Loveland City Schools commit to the development of critical thinkers by offering the opportunity to understand, study, and embrace difference as the fabric of our Democracy, a Democracy free from hatred, alienation, or division.