City of Platteville Responds to Event That Occurred in Platteville School District

City of Platteville Residents & Visitors, 

The City of Platteville received notice from the Platteville School District regarding a staff member receiving a racist and threatening letter. 

On behalf of the City of Platteville, I want to reiterate the sentiments of the school district, that hate has no place in our community.  We are committed to providing a community environment in which everyone feels safe, welcome, and included.  We know that we must always work to increase our understanding of each other in an effort to grow in love, kindness, and understanding. 

During the summer of 2020, the City of Platteville officially adopted the working inclusion, diversity, and equity statement below: 

• The employees, volunteers and elected officials of Platteville are committed to a community governance and work environment that values and supports equity, diversity, and inclusion. 
• We believe in equity. We work to break down systems of oppression, bias and hate to achieve a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. 
• We believe in diversity because our commonalities and differences are both assets. We reject barriers that limit and divide us, and we reject bias against any person or group. 
• We believe in inclusion. We believe the best outcomes will be achieved when community members participate in the decision-making process. 
• We support the creation of a task force to discuss issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Such a task force will be an incubator for policy and decision-making recommendations to be reviewed by employees, volunteers, and elected officials of Platteville. 
• Collectively we will strive to learn about equity, diversity, and inclusion; and promote acceptance of the differences of others within our workforce and our community. 
• The City of Platteville affirms its dedication and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion because these values make us a desirable and strong community for all people. 

In 2021, the Common Council authorized the creation of the Taskforce for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (TIDE).  The goal of this taskforce is to be an incubator for community dialogue as well as policy and decision-making recommendations that will be advanced to the City’s employees, elected officials and volunteers for further development and implementation. 

TIDE meetings are open to the public and those interested in learning more can find additional information under the City of Platteville’s website under the Board and Commissions section. https://www.platteville.org/bc/page/task-force-inclusion-diversity-and-equity-tide 

In unison with the Platteville School District, the City of Platteville will continue to affirm its dedication and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion because these values make us a desirable and strong community.

Respectfully,

Adam Ruechel
Platteville City Manager