KITCHENER -- The Waterloo Region District School Board has passed a motion launching a committee to examine school names through an anti-racist lens.

The committee will review all school and board facility names, while engaging with the Indigenous, Black and racialized communities in the region. The motion was approved at Monday night's school board meeting.

Trustee Kathleen Woodcock brought the motion forward and said racial injustices and inequality are acknowledged in the education system. Now, she said it's time for the board to take action.

"People who have been impacted by systemic racism and we need to, as an organization, address that," Woodcock said.

No particular school name was mentioned to be reviewed.

"There are a few names that are problematic," said trustee Karen Missner.

The first report is expected by the end of November and recommendations in February 2021.

The school board will also voted to review its school resource officer program.

"It's been in place for just over 20 years and it's actually never been reviewed," trustee Scott Piatkowski said.

The program is currently on pause and consists of 10 constables assigned to schools across the province, aimed at fostering positive relationships between youth and police.

The committee will consult the public to decide if the program should go ahead, be modified, or cancelled.