June 04, 2020
Statement on Behalf of Dr. Houston Barber and the Frankfort Independent Schools Board Team
Dear Panther Families, Staff, and Community,
At Frankfort Independent Schools, our core values are community, learning, relationships, respect, excellence, and equity. As we bear witness to the latest horrifying example of the systemic racism that plagues our nation, we mourn the profound impact of this racism on the safety and wellbeing of students of color. The killing of George Floyd reminds us that Black students in particular face overt and implicit bias and discrimination that are the legacy of over 400 years of racial injustice in our nation. Because Black Lives Matter, we must stand united against this injustice and commit to eradicating it from our midst.
FIS prides itself in wrapping our collective arms around our students, and naming and claiming each and every child, each and every day. We also know that our school district is not immune to racism. In partnership with our community and families, we must continue and accelerate our work to remove racial bias, educate ourselves and our staff about equity, and remove systemic barriers so that each and every child receives a world-class education and personalized support system.