Pulaski County Special School District students, families, professional staff, and community stakeholders,
I, like you, am shocked and saddened over the events of last week. The death of George Floyd sparked outrage across this country. Outrage on the senseless brutality of the act. Outrage because of the long years of disparate treatment of our citizens of color by our institutions. We at PCSSD stand proudly with all community members seeking justice for themselves, their families, their communities and ultimately, all of us. PCSSD is here now and will remain after the protests come to an end.
We are working hard to ensure gaps in some of our communities' infrastructures that impact educational access will be alleviated by the start of school. We will continue with AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) across our district to ensure our schools’ culture uplifts all students. We will continue to ensure that we have leaders in our schools and at the district level who represent our students, families, and communities with equity and excellence. We will work with our stakeholders to provide our students with a culturally relevant and rigorous curriculum that prepares them for the world today and the world of tomorrow.
We must act now to uplift the better nature in all of us. Public schools are key to unleashing that better nature and attaining the promise of democracy. PCSSD has a remarkable staff committed to equity and excellence and it is an honor to work with them. I can speak resolutely that we will work passionately to meet the needs of all students to have an educational organization that promotes justice. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere.”
Sincerely,
Charles McNulty,
Superintendent