The Edwardsville School District says it will take new steps Monday night to address concerns about harassment based on sexual orientation, gender and race.

In an open letter shared Monday, Superintendent Patrick Shelton said the district has encountered incidents of harassment over the past year but did not specify a number or indicate which school or schools where it had happened.

A district spokesperson did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday afternoon.

“This behavior is not only deeply hurtful and disrespectful, but it also undermines the inclusive and welcoming environment we strive to create for all students, teachers, and staff. It is crucial that we come together as a community to address this issue head-on and foster a culture of respect, understanding, and acceptance,” Shelton wrote.

Shelton adde that moving forward, there will be “mandatory reporting to parents of victims and alleged perpetrators, and mandatory parent conferences when reports include hate speech or harassment due to sexism, genderism, or racism.” Each district building will have a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion representative, and there will be more ways to report potential incidents.

District administrators say they will address the plans at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, at Liberty Middle School (1 District Dr, Edwardsville) starting at 7 p.m. The meeting will also be streamed live on the district’s Facebook page.

“Discriminatory language should never be tolerated, and we are committed to ensuring that all students feel safe, valued, and supported within our district. To those who have experienced the pain caused by these slurs, I want to assure you that we take this matter seriously, and your voices will be heard,” Shelton wrote. “Together, we can build a school community that embraces and celebrates our differences, fostering an environment where all students can thrive.”