Akron Public Schools board slows possible repeal of DEI policies, sends issue to committee
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The Akron Public Schools board on Monday declined to vote on the superintendent's plan to gut diversity, equity and inclusion programming, and will send the issue to a committee for further discussion.
The board voted to send the recommendations to its equity committee. A special meeting of the committee will be held Wednesday at 5:30. The meeting will be open to the public.
A crowd also showed up at Monday's meeting in support of the district's DEI programing, and several speakers voiced support for the programs, practices and values that have been the cornerstone's of the Akron school district's identity for years.
Superintendent Michael Robinson had put several repeals or revisions of policies on Monday's agenda, asking the board to completely gut the policies behind APS's drive to offer every student what they need to be successful in their education.
The request was an attempt to comply with a letter sent from the U.S. Department of Education last week advising school districts and higher education institutions that receive federal funding that it could be at risk if they are not in compliance with civil rights laws. The Trump administration's interpretation of that law, the letter said, was that anything related to DEI is illegal.
The superintendent asked the board to completely repeal the district's 2017 equity policy and its 2021 racial equity policy. He also recommended amending the board's committee structure, which is baked into policy, doing away with the board's equity committee and replacing it with an operations committee. Only the board can edit its own policy and name its committees.
Ahead of the conversation with the board, the district sent out three notices to staff that their jobs would be reduced. One of those jobs, however, is baked into board policy, and can't be eliminated unless the board repeals the racial equity policy.
The original author of that policy, former board president N.J. Akbar, came to the board meeting Monday to express his support for keeping the policy. He offered up other solutions to the board, including a temporary suspension of the policy. Dismantling it permanently, he said, would have lasting effects on the district for years to come.
"We were on the right side of history then, we need to be on the right side of history now," Akbar said.
This story will be updated.
Contact education reporter Jennifer Pignolet at jpignolet@thebeaconjournal.com, at 330-996-3216 or on Twitter @JenPignolet.
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