Stalemate by VB board leaves decision to suspend DEI programs intact

Yahoo

07-05-2025

Note: District 2 Virginia Beach School Board member Kim Melnyk's last name was misspelled in the above video.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Beach School Board's original decision to suspend diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the city's public schools will stand after a vote Tuesday to amend that resolution resulted in a stalemate.
VB board adopts resolution to suspend DEI initiatives
The vote to amend the April 8 resolution to suspend DEI initiatives in the city's public schools was 5-5, with one board member, District 8's David Culpepper, absent.
'After this evening's special school board meeting, I am more affirmed that our community will have a much better understanding of what is happening in our schools by joining me tomorrow evening,' said District 5 board member Melinda Rogers in a Facebook post.
Rogers is taking part in a DEI town hall meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Princess Anne Middle School at 2509 Seaboard Road in Virginia Beach. She said she has a presentation prepared and would be discussing DEI in schools and taking questions.
Board members did not have an answer on what programs or curriculum would be impacted by the board's original decision to suspend DEI programs as they await further guidance from federal courts.
The original vote to suspend DEI initiatives in the city's public schools was 6-3 in favor. It came after the Trump administration's Jan. 29 executive order to cut federal education funding for schools that refuse to drop DEI programs. On April 3, K-12 schools throughout the country received a notice stating they had just 10 days to certify they will comply with the executive order.
'Let's keep the main thing the main thing,' said District 6 board member Michael Callan. 'And the main thing is a solid education, preparing them for the difficulties that life will bring.'
It's a decision dividing staffers, students and parents.
The adopted resolution states that it is 'to comply with legal obligations in exchange for receiving federal financial assistance.' In the meeting, School Board Chairwoman Kathleen J. Brown said Virginia Beach City Public Schools gets $74,285,975 in federal funding.
District 7 School Board member Matt W. Cummings asked at the last board meeting how suspending the policy would impact the curriculum, particularly at Tallwood High School's Global Studies and World Languages Academy, which has a number of events celebrating cross-cultural awareness and celebrating diversity.
District 2 Board member Kim Melnyk said the executive order may affect things in the school division, and she's seeking clarity on what it will mean for the division's schools.
'This executive order may affect things,' Melnyk said. 'And that's what I'm worried about, and I want clear direction for our school division. We're the fourth-largest school division in the Commonwealth of Virginia and we have a very large community who deserves the answers and the directions. They need to know what we're doing.'
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