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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Stalemate by VB board leaves decision to suspend DEI programs intact
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.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia Beach School Board votes to remove DEI programs amid federal funding ultimatum
Virginia Beach School Board members voted 6-3 on Tuesday night to pass a resolution to remove diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The vote came after the U.S. Department of Education's letter on Thursday ordering local public schools to remove DEI programs or lose federal funding. It's part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to remove what it calls 'liberal ideology' from schools. 'I definitely think this is a good step. There's no question in my mind that it's a good step. It's a good step for everybody,' said board member David Culpepper, who drafted the resolution. Changes could limit perspectives included in curriculum and multicultural extracurricular activities. These initiatives were under Virginia Beach's 'educational equity' policy which implemented DEI strategies into the division's functions back in 2020. Tuesday's resolution states that they intend to suspend all activity under this policy. Other tools, such as the equity database that tracked marginalized students on academic performance, and the 2022-2025 Equity Plan that detailed the division's strategies on developing a diversified workforce and inclusive environment, will be discontinued. The newly drafted 2025-2030 strategic framework will also have to be adjusted. The department will revert back to its older name, the Department of Opportunity and Achievement. It remains to be seen if DEI Department employees will be affected. The resolution ensured that Virginia Beach maintains federal funding to provide for free and reduced lunch, resources for Title 1 schools and special education programs. The division receives over $74 million by the government, said Board Chair Kathleen Brown. That dollar amount is what motivated her to vote for it. Though Culpepper argued that the resolution pushes for equal opportunity, others said that there was no other option but to vote for it. 'I want to remind everybody, we took an oath. We can't go behind the federal government's back and do what we so choose to do,' said board member Rose Dywer. Three board members raised concerns about after-school tutoring programs, multicultural clubs and the current curriculum continuing under the new resolution – including potential effects on on instructional programs currently underway. They argued that the federal government's letter was extortive and would disadvantage vulnerable students. 'This resolution also erodes the self-worth of our students, while erasing the many contributions made by diverse cultures designed to make students feel proud of their heritage, even if they are not of European descent,' said board member Alveta Green. Board member Matt Cummings pushed for the board to delay a decision, given that the federal department extended the deadline for compliance to April 24. He said that members of the public needed to be able to comment, considering that the resolution wasn't made public on the agenda. His motion failed. Superintendent Donald Robertson said that while the state does provide resources to ensure that students are reflected in the curriculum, concerns around some content have been noted by VBCPS's Department of Teaching and Learning. Upcoming cross cultural activities are also likely to be cancelled until further notice. Robertson urged the board to seriously consider being in compliance with the federal guidelines. 'Because the other concern is, quite frankly, talking to superintendents, when I put my name on this document, I just put my name on the line to be fired,' said Robertson. The board will discern in future sessions how to implement the federal requirements while still trying to serve marginalized students. Board Chair Brown said that the public would be involved in the process going forward. The next meeting will be on April 22. The federal government requires the division to be in compliance with its guidelines by May 15.
