This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/12/2023 08:02 AMBranford’s Board of Education (BOE) rose on June 7 to take a “No Place for Hate” pledge offered to them by Branford High School (BHS) student representatives. With the pledge, the BOE joins an ongoing BHS initiative of the same name.
Members of the BOE took the pledge during a special full board meeting held June 7 at Walsh Intermediate School (WIS). The special meeting date was due to the cancellation of a scheduled Wednesday, June 14 meeting conflicting with BHS Class of 2023 commencement taking place on that day.
Ahead of taking the pledge on June 7, BOE chair Peter Berdon introduced five BHS student representatives, including BOE student representative Eyad Salem, who Berdon noted had first shared with the BOE information about the No Place for Hate initiative underway at the high school. Berdon said BOE member Tim Raynor then made the suggestion that the BOE also take the pledge.
“At the suggestion of Dr. Raynor, the board agreed that it would be appropriate for us, in terms of modeling for our students, for the board to take the pledge,” said Berdon, speaking at the full board meeting June 7.
“For Branford Public Schools to succeed in its mission to educate all students, we must create schools where all children and adults feel safe and welcome and know that they are seen and heard. We must be a district where there is no place for hate. Tonight the members of the Board of Education are committing themselves to that work,” Berdon continued.
Members of the board then rose and repeated a pledge which incorporated district- and BOE-specific language, as read to them by the BHS student representatives.
The pledge taken by the BOE on June 7 stated, “ I will seek to gain understanding of those who are different from myself. I will speak out against prejudice and discrimination. I will reach out to support those who are targets of hate. I will promote respect for people and help foster a prejudice-free district. I believe that one person can make a difference. No person can be an innocent bystander when it comes to opposing hate. I recognize that respecting individual dignity and promoting inter-group harmony are the responsibilities of all members of the Branford Public Schools, especially the Board of Education.”
Board members also signed paper pledge hearts to be added to the pledge display at BHS, which includes hearts signed by BHS community members.
The June 7 special meeting of the full BOE was livestreamed and can be viewed at the Branford Public Schools website, branford.k12.ct.us