Latest news with #VirginiaBeachSchoolBoard
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia Beach School Board votes on DEI a third time, with another policy vote expected
In a closely divided decision, the Virginia Beach School Board voted 6-5 this week to continue its pause on diversity, equity and inclusive policies in the school district. The Trump administration issued directives threatening to cut federal funding for public schools with DEI programs and the vote marks the third time in five weeks the board has considered the future of DEI policies. It won't be the last. The school board still needs to update school policy, and plans to vote on revised policy language on May 27. The board first voted to remove DEI policies from its schools on April 8 so the school system could continue receiving federal funds. Since then, more than 100 members of the public have spoken during public comment at meetings. Last week, some of the board members who wanted to continue DEI initiatives called a special meeting after a federal judge blocked the Trump administration's directives. Campus protests flare on a smaller scale than last spring, but with higher stakes Harvard loses another $450 million in grants in escalating battle with Trump administration House Republicans propose $5 billion for private school vouchers Harvard says it won't abandon 'core' principles to meet Department of Education demands Trump's reshaping of higher education tests America's appeal for international students The May 6 vote sought to stop the end of DEI programs at Virginia Beach schools until the issue played out in federal court. But that vote ended in a 5-5 tie, with one member absent, so the vote was brought up again this week. In Tuesday's vote, board members Michael Callan, David Culpepper, Carolyn Weems, Kathleen Brown, Mark Bohenstiel and Rose Dwyer voted to continue the pause on DEI. Members Alveta Green, Melinda Rogers, Kimberly Melnyk, Sharon Felton and Matt Cummings voted to end the pause. What is and is not allowed hasn't been defined yet — which has put schools in a difficult position. They also have to ensure that they are meeting Virginia's guidelines, which might conflict with the federal government's demand. This leaves board members and educators in a position where they're unsure if certain multicultural events, clubs and special education instructional content can continue. Since the initial vote, multiple webpages referring to diversity have been deleted. The DEI Department's webpage, as well as another webpage cataloging the division's 'diverse history' are gone. The school board's attorney and the public policy committee have also presented an updated policy to board members. Proposed changes to Policy 5-4, currently known as 'Educational Equity,' would rename it 'Educational Opportunity and Achievement,' remove several sections and references to 'diversity,' 'inclusion,' 'implicit bias,' 'cross-cultural' and 'equity.' The board will vote on the revised policy language on May 27. Eliza Noe,
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia Beach board votes to keep suspension of DEI in place
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Beach School Board voted 6-5 Tuesday to move forward with its initial vote to suspend diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. This is the third vote the board has taken on the matter. 'I want to thank the public for coming to the school board meetings repeatedly to voice your overwhelming support for our educational practices that support all students in our division,' District 5 board member Melinda Rogers said in a Facebook post on the vote. 'While the board majority voted in favor to remove needed supports, I will continue to work to support ALL staff and students, including listening to my constituents and educating myself in the policies and data that best support our community so I can make informed decisions on the dais.' Rogers posted her statement above a worded image that states: 'Diversity is a fact. Equity is a choice. Inclusion is an action. Belonging is an outcome.' With little notice, the board first adopted a resolution to suspend DEI initiatives in school division programs and curriculums at an April 9 meeting. VB board adopts resolution to suspend DEI initiatives That initial vote came after the Trump administration's Jan. 29 executive order to cut federal education funding for schools who refuse to drop diversity, equity and inclusion programs. On April 3, K-12 schools throughout the country received a notice stating they had just 10 days to certify they would comply with the executive order. The resolution passed stated that it is 'to comply with legal obligations in exchange for receiving federal financial assistance.' Virginia Beach City Public Schools receives more than $74 million in federal funding. At a May 6 meeting, a vote to amend the resolution resulted in a stalemate — with District 8 board member David Culpepper absent — leaving the original decision intact, but it forced a third vote on the the matter Tuesday. After more debate, the board voted around 11:30 p.m. to keep its original decision intact, turning aside the motion to amend the resolution, with members Michael Callan, Culpepper, Carolyn Weems, Kathleen Brown, Mark Bohenstiel and Rose Dwyer voting against the motion, while Matt Cummings, Sharon Felton, Kim Melnyk, Dr. Alveta Green and Melinda Rogers voted in favor of amending the resolution. The decision to suspend DEI initiatives in the school division has continued to divide staffers, students and parents, and has been met with backlash from many in the community who say DEI is vital to school programs and school frameworks. Though the board voted to keep the suspension of DEI initiatives in place, school board attorney Kamala Lannetti said more information on what changes will be made to school programs and offerings will come in future meetings. Some of those changes will come in division frameworks. For example, one of its policies, the Educational Equity policy, could be retitled to Educational Opportunity and Achievement. And words such as diversity and equity would be removed from the policy altogether. Changes would also come to the school division's Compass to 2025 and Compass to 2030 strategic frameworks, removing words like equity and replacing the word diverse with a phrase like, 'a wide range.' The board expects to hear more and possibly vote on policy changes at its May 27 meeting. agendaDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
VB school board gets earful on DEI decision
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — It has been a long, simmering battle over diversity, equity and inclusion in public schools, and Tuesday, the Virginia Beach School Board got an earful from a standing room only crowd, many of them students, about its previous decision to suspend what has become a controversial policy. VB board adopts resolution to suspend DEI initiatives The meeting was the first for the board since it adopted the resolution, and 113 people signed up to speak on all sides of the issue, from former educators to community members. But those who spoke up the most? Students from Virginia Beach City Public Schools. The resolution passed stated 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 VBCPS gets $74,285,975 in federal funding. K-12 schools must sign certification against DEI to receive federal money, administration says 'No matter what side you're on, we want to hear everyone,' said Virginia Beach School Board chairwoman Kathleen Brown. And they made their voices heard on a decision that has received close scrutiny. 'They just kind of see the effects and how passing something in secret like this won't fly, and we'll call them out for it,' said First Colonial High School student Hattie Friedman. Friedman does not want to lose DEI programs at school, saying it puts certain students at a disadvantage. Another First Colonial student, Bryce Deatley, speaking in support of DEI, said some students are only able to be their true selves at school. 'Some people have to hide their self who they are at home,' Deatley said, 'and sometimes school is their only place where they can be who they are.' The board listened to both sides of this debate for hours. Many didn't like the swift manner in which the resolution was adopted, while others said the resolution is unclear on just exactly what programs will be cut. 10 On Your Side asked school board members about the decision. 'As you can see, everybody's got ample opportunity to comment,' said District 8 board member David Culpepper. Said board member Dr. Alveta Green: 'I don't know if this is going to lead to an expulsion of the policy where everything is completely removed.' Some are praising the suspension of DEI initiatives, but others disagree. 'DEI, I feel it's very destructive,' said Virginia Beach resident Teresa Langille. 'To me, it's a form that could lead to Marxism.' The decision to suspend DEI initiatives within Virginia Beach City Public Schools still stands, as board members continue to hear from the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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.
