Sequoia Gregorich, Reporter
Racial equity was the main topic of a meeting held at the school on Monday, Dec. 12, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The event was sponsored by the Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) and Vashon Island School District (VISD).
The evening was a culmination of a partnership started by Superintendent Michael Soltman in early May. The meeting consisted of VISD teachers, community leaders, and other people interested in learning about these issues.
At the meeting, 2013 VHS alumna and recent Whitman graduate Tazi Flory shared her experiences of growing up on Vashon as a woman of Japanese heritage. Flory spoke of the isolation and prejudice she encountered on the Island, which is 92 percent white.
Most attendees agreed that there is a problem when it comes to white people at the school being unaware of racial tension and prejudice.
“We think we are a great school, and if you look at the data when it’s aggregated together, we all are pretty impressive,” said Soltman. “Ninety-nine percent [of students] graduate, but if you disaggregate the data… there are three groups of kids that didn’t define well: students of color, disabled students, and students of low income.”
Flory spoke of many classroom environments at VHS while she was there that lacked the resources and cultural acceptance necessary to reach racial equity.
“The school system let me down,” said Flory.
After raising important issues, Flory wrapped up her powerful talk by expressing the great love she has for Vashon and the people on it.
Although the majority of the talk was related to what the district had failed to do, Flory reminded the group that the meeting was meant to bring people together.