A Hamilton County school board member is calling for racial equity training for all school board members.
Jenny Hill of District 6 told her fellow board members at a meeting Thursday that it is time to talk openly about race, racism and racial disparities. She also said that she has asked Chairman Joe Wingate to set up Racial Equity Institute training for the board.
"That word 'equity' became a bad word in Hamilton County, and I think it's time that we start talking about race and racism openly in Hamilton County Schools. We need to shine a light on the fact that for decades we have not delivered on the promise of equal educational opportunities and commit that we as a board will do that hard work of creating policy that closes the opportunity gaps," Hill said.
Hill said she was in part inspired to undergo this work in light of the nation's "weeks of mourning" over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer.
"A man who when confronted by the police, complied in all the ways that we teach our children to comply, and now George Floyd is dead," Hill said. "So the system that we say is supposed to protect him and all of us, instead it took his life. I know that Mr. Floyd's story is one of thousands, of millions throughout our nation's history and even in our Chattanooga history."
Hill also requested that Superintendent Bryan Johnson's administration compile a list of ways that the district has made progress toward ensuring equity for all students - such as the launch of an equity department and an equity task force and expanding access to advanced courses to increase participation by students of all races - and where gaps still exist.
Equity has long been a topic of conversation in Chattanooga, and often a controversial one.
In 2018, more than 130 community leaders, advocates and businessmen and women signed an open letter to the school board and the community emphasizing the importance of addressing equity.
The group was spurred to action by community debate that followed a statement released by board members Rhonda Thurman of District 1 and Joe Smith of District 3 denouncing a report by local education advocacy group UnifiEd that recommended enhanced transportation options and greater student choice to increase opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
"While it's reasonable to debate the potential strategies the school system might implement to address and improve educational equity for all students, we must address equity - the facts and the gaps - within our public schools," the letter read.
In August 2019, a Hamilton County Schools-sponsored training for teachers who serve in the Opportunity Zone at some of the district's poorest schools with the highest concentrations of students of color addressed issues of race and provoked backlash across the community.
Some called the training session that centered around conversations about racism, white privilege and equity inappropriate, while many educators argued that it was beneficial and said they were inspired and grateful for it.
Most board members spoke in support of Hill's proposal Thursday and agreed it would be an important discussion for the board to have.
"Since I joined this board, the topics that Jenny's discussing are very near and dear to my heart," said board member Tiffanie Robinson of District 4. "I think that is a really amazing challenge, and I think it would be fascinating to see our board go through that [training]."
Robinson also noted that she felt she hasn't always expressed appreciation for Johnson's leadership and accused the media of often "berating" the superintendent.
Smith also said he wanted to listen and to learn.
"I believe this whole issue goes back to the condition of man's heart. My training manual is God's word," he said. "I think equity is something we've got to continue to look at and do better at, and I want to listen. I want to learn."
Rhonda Thurman of District 1 said she appreciated Hill's proposal and echoed Smith's sentiments Thursday.
"I just want everybody to be treated equally and I want everybody to be treated fair," Thurman said. "We all have the same Bible and we all live off the same Bible. ... I just try not to see people's color. I don't think that's a fault, I just try treat everyone the same. That's what I teach my grandchildren, that's what I teach my daughter."
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.