Dear Parliamentary Secretary Chant, Parliamentary Secretary Elmore, Executive Director Higgs
and Assistant Deputy Minister Nicholls,
Subject: K-12 Workforce Census on Diversity Equity and Inclusion
At the British Columbia School Trustees Association’s 2024 annual general meeting, our
members representing all 60 boards of education in B.C. passed the following resolution:
“That the BCSTA request that the Ministry of Education and Child Care in collaboration
with the Parliamentary Secretary for Anti Racism Initiatives and Parliamentary Secretary
for Accessibility conduct a voluntary census of all K-12 employees to provide data on
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the workforce.”
Our membership has identified that there is a pressing need for a voluntary census of all K-12
employees to gather essential data on diversity in our workforce. This request is pivotal in
ensuring that we can work towards schools reflecting the diverse communities they serve and
so students can see themselves reflected in their schools. Equity in the workplace is more than
a goal; it is a fundamental value that fosters a fair, inclusive and diverse workplace.
After adopting this resolution, we have actively engaged with key stakeholders to move this
work forward. In May 2024, we initiated discussions with Assistant Deputy Minister Cloe Nicholls
and Executive Director Jeremy Higgs to outline this resolution’s significance and explore
potential implementation. Our June meeting with the BC Public School Employers’ Association
confirmed that this work should reside with the Ministry of Education and Child Care, and
BCPSEA will be exploring enhancements to the Employment Data and Analysis System to
provide more comprehensive information on employee demographics. An ensuing joint meeting
between the BCSTA and BCPSEA boards followed, at which time we discussed the completion
of the ministry’s first voluntary employee survey related to Anti-Racism Act work, which will lead
to further understanding of the current state of the workforce within K-12.
We urge the ministry and the parliamentary secretaries for anti-racism initiatives and
accessibility to continue prioritizing these efforts, and we look forward to working together to
ensure every student has the foundation to succeed.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Broady
President
British Columbia School Trustees Association
[Sent August 28, 2024]