LCS Superintendent Announces 'Listening Tour' In Light of Dunbar Incident
Lynchburg, Va., (WSET) -- The Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) superintendent sent out a letter to parents and the media Wednesday after a recent incident at a "Black History Month assembly at Dunbar Middle School."
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The incident last month has "highlighted a series of long standing concerns in our community around both racial and religious sensitivity and inclusiveness," says LCS Superintendent Scott Brabrand.
Brabrand says the letters to Dunbar families opened up some feedback from community members saying that the situation was "characterized only as a racial matter rather than a complex issue that also was about religious freedom and inclusiveness."
"I believe that it is essential that we are tolerant, understanding, and inclusive of people of all religious beliefs, or non-religious belief, and of race and identity," said Brabrand.
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To help move forward, the school systems says it met with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), a resource for school systems around the state on critical issues of race and religion.
In partnership with VCIC, LCS will begin a listening tour to gain a better understanding of the concerns expressed from this incident.
There will be three forums throughout the City on the following dates and locations:
- March 21: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 1000 Langhorne Rd.
- April 4: Jubilee Family Development Center- 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 1512 Florida Ave.
- April 12: Miller Center, 6:00-8:00 p.m. 301 Grove St.
For those that cannot attend, you to share your comments and concerns HERE.
