Placentia-Yorba Linda school district adopts resolution on racism; superintendent to retire

 

Community input will be a key element in a program “to support actions and behaviors that match the diverse needs of our community,” as outlined in a resolution condemning racism recently adopted by trustees of the Placenita-Yorba Linda Unified School District.

The input will come from task forces that will include district, family and student members, according to the resolution, which also promises to “continue our district-wide professional development in all areas of racial bias and injustice.”

The resolution calls on “parents, educators, leaders and all community members to help our children understand and react to racial differences, and to teach our youth how to peacefully speak up against injustice, oppression, racism and inequality, and advocate the role we all play in creating a more just and inclusive world for future generations.”

Another component of the program is establishing an “ethnic studies” course for the district's high schools, along with a pledge “to review our curriculum with a particular focus in 2020-21 on our entire social studies curriculum in an effort to improve many criteria, including a fair and representative inclusion of underrepresented voices.”

The resolution states the district “stands strongly with our Black students, all students of color, staff, families and community and vows to reflect upon its policies, values, goals and missions to ensure its commitment to all.”

And “vows to make decisions with a deliberate awareness of impediments to learning faced by students of color, as well as those with diverse cultural, linguistic or socio-economic backgrounds.”

The resolution was adopted on a unanimous vote by the five elected trustees and included a preferential “aye” vote from Noah Campuzano, the student body president at El Dorado High School, who is this semester's student trustee.

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A new superintendent to replace the retiring Greg Plutko is expected to be hired by the end of the year “to ensure a smooth transition of leadership takes place” before Plutko's departure in December, according to a statement from district spokesperson Alyssa Griffiths.

Plutko is the second top-level retirement this year, coming after Deputy Superintendent Candy Plahy's Aug. 1 departure. Plutko was named to head the 25,000-student district in 2016, after more than 30 years in previous public education roles.

Certain to be in the mix for consideration for the superintendent slot will be the district's three assistant superintendents. Last month, trustees extended their contracts through June 2023.

They include Linda Adamson in education services, a former Rose Drive Elementary School principal who was named to replace Plahy this summer; Richard Lopez in human services, a former Valencia High School principal; and David Giordano in business services.

The 45-square-mile district also includes small parts of Fullerton, Brea and Anaheim.