The Gorham School Committee (SC) has begun work on the draft of a new anti-racism policy for the Gorham School District. This policy is intended to address racism and inequity within the Gorham Schools.

In June, nearly 400 Gorham students and community members gathered in a two-hour peaceful protest as a part of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. These policy changes were introduced following continued student, alum, and community calls for change.

During its June 10 meeting, the SC voted unanimously to publicly condemn the recent acts of racism across the country. At the same time, members of the Civil Rights Team at Gorham High School (GHS) submitted a draft proclamation to Superintendent Heather Perry. The team requested that Perry deliver the draft to the SC to be used as a core document in the development of new Anti-Racist policies for the district.

In July, GHS grad Saoirse Herlihy (GHS ’18) published an open letter to Gorham educators recounting her experiences with racism as a black student in the Gorham school system. Her open letter called for a critical look at the “curriculum, school culture, and educational practice” in the schools.

Over the past few months, GHS students, alumni, and community members have also come together to form G.A.R.D., Gorham Anti-Racism Development, which is a community-based group with the aim of “creating an environment actively engaged in anti-racism, cultural and bias education, as well as expanding our diversity and inclusion practices to ensure a town where everyone feels safe and celebrated.”

Recently, G.A.R.D. hosted an Anti-Racism Teach-In at Gorham Middle School which sought to uplift the voices of students of color and black students in Gorham. The new Anti-Racist policies will aim to address the racism in Gorham Schools highlighted by students and community members.

In a statement to the Gorham Times, Gorham Schools’ Assistant Superintendent, Chris Record, discussed the current stage of this new policy work: “We are very pleased to be working on anti-racism policy language with the School Committee Policy Committee. We are taking this topic very seriously and are currently working on draft language.”

Record added, “At our next meeting on September 9, we will be inviting some students, staff, and administrators to join us in this discussion. There are many aspects included in this draft language, such as examining our curriculum, professional development, and hiring practices. We look forward to continuing this work of policy creation. Once the Policy Committee has created the draft language it will go to the School Committee for review.”