Arlington School District combats racism with new diversity training

After several incidents of racism that sparked parent and student concerns, a North Sound school district is developing a new and unique way to tackle diversity issues.

Inside the machinist shop at Weston -- Arlington’s alternative high school -- senior Nekco Jones is slowly chipping away at hunk of steel to make something beautiful.

And that’s kind of what Weston Principal Will Nelson, with help from students like Nekco -- one of the few minorities in the building -- is doing here.

“What is going to be most beneficial to my students to ensure they see success?” he asked.

Nelson says the answer is slowly chipping away at stereotypes to make something beautiful -- an equitable environment where everyone feels included.

“We have community circles every single Monday where the whole entire school comes together and we talk about things that are important,” he told us.

That hasn’t always been the case. Over the past year, there have been several incidents of racism in the Arlington School District, including two middle school girls of color being told by another student to “go pick cotton” and a Snapchat image with the words “racist white and proud” that resulted in the discipline of eight high schoolers.

“There were a few parents that came to the school board meeting and shared their concerns and asking us -- can we be more pro-active?” explained Arlington School District Superintendent Chrys Sweeting.

Roughly 78 percent of the district is white.  Thirteen percent is Hispanic and then after that the numbers drop off to single digits.

But the idea isn’t necessarily about creating more diversity -- rather, it’s about understanding diversity.

And Sweeting and Assistant Superintendent Kathy Ehman know how to do that.

Eighteen months ago, they came to Arlington together from Puyallup, where a lawsuit more than a decade ago mandated that the district train in cultural competency.

It’s not a mandate here, Sweeting and Ehman say, but it’s a no-brainer.  They’ve spent months attending equity conferences, meeting with consultants, training staff members and hosting lunches with small groups of minority students.

"I just ask, 'What helps your learning, what hinders your learning?'” said Sweeting.

There is more in the works, but the district says this is the start of something beautiful.

"It was just a baby step in what we need to do on a bigger scale,” concluded Sweeting.

Trending headlines

• WSU QB Tyler Hilinski found dead in apparent suicide
• 'Hearts are broken' as fallen deputy laid to rest
• Police: Man with 'ornate umbrella' thought to be rifle causes hospital lockdown
• Fallen deputy's organs extend life for wounded soldiers, partner said
• Man killed in Tacoma break-in and shooting

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP

Cox Media Group