Our thoughts are with the family and friends of George Floyd. This has been a difficult and painful year. The pain from fighting a deadly virus has been exacerbated and heightened by the all too frequent public killings of African Americans by law enforcement officers. This pain has focused our nation on the longstanding historical injustices that have plagued our nation since its founding. We have struggled to come together as one united community. While the verdict brings this trial to a close, the conversation about structural racism and inequity must continue in our homes, communities and schools. MCPS has provided staff with resources to support our students with this conversation. It is with hope that we can now begin to heal. We will take the lessons from this experience and work together to build a better and more equitable world.