The following letter was distributed June 20 by the administrative team at Islesboro Central School. 

Dear Community,

Islesboro Central School’s Administration and Leadership Team refuse to accept the recent murder of George Floyd at the hands of officers. We denounce the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police Department. We support Black Lives Matter and efforts to reduce police brutality and use of excessive force.

We commit to calling out racism whenever we see it. As educators, we strive to learn from these instances. 

We are also committed to self-reflecting on our own actions and examining our implicit biases to make our school community an inclusive environment for all students. ICS administration is working closely with the school’s Leadership Team in creating professional development opportunities for all staff, targeting implicit bias, race relations, and pervasive racism found in our culture.

Our student-led Social Justice Team has this to add: “We as members of the ICS Social Justice Team stand in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. We recognize the need to follow the leadership of Black people in the global fight against white supremacy. The Social Justice Team promises to continue to further our own understanding of racial inequity and implicit bias, and we invite you to join us.” We will join our students in their efforts.

We recognize that we must examine our own curricula and ensure that it reflects and sheds light on diverse perspectives and life experiences. To that end, we will work together in an effort to swing the pendulum towards a more inclusive and kinder world.

In solidarity,
Islesboro Central School Administration and Leadership Team