Green Bay Area Public School District building. (IMAGE: Courtesy of Fox 11 WLUK)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — New federal directives to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies are trickling down to the local level.
The Green Bay Area Public School District (GBAPS) saw its board vote 4-3 Monday night to change the titles and descriptions of several jobs and positions related to DEI, or lose funding.
It wasn’t an easy decision for board members, who shared their resentment toward the directive.
“There is nothing right about this. In the spirit of civil rights, civil disobedience when called for, this is one that requires me to say, ‘Hell no,'” GBAPS trustee Rick Crosson said.
“To impose this on our school district and to demand the removal of words like diversity, equity, inclusion is to ignore the truth of who we are,” GBAPS Board President Laura McCoy said.
School districts were sent a letter Feb. 14 from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. The letter told districts they had 14 days to comply and change job descriptions away from DEI. If changes were not made, the district would face the potential loss of $40 million in federal aid for student meal programs.
One example of a change is the school district’s “Director of Engagement and Inclusion” is now the “Director of Engagement.”
“I deplore it, I hate this, but I trust that our staff has done the best they can to respond and so I will vote for these things,” GBAPS Trustee Lynn Gerlach said.
Many who voted ‘yes’ say they are against the changes, but didn’t want to lose federal dollars and put students at risk. Others felt a ‘no’ vote was necessary, regardless of the money.
“I’m watching this and I’m not going to enable this process. I’m going to stand up. I’m going to keep my faith and I’m going to tell people all around me to stand up to fight for what is right,” GBAPS Trustee Kou Lee said.
Within the job descriptions, several changes were made — eliminating all duties and references containing diversity, culture, race, equity and inclusion. At Green Bay public schools, 62.5% of students are from ethnic backgrounds, with around 37% of students identifying as white.
Some of the board members are concerned these changes will hinder their ability to properly serve the needs of all students going forward.
“I am not interested in canceling programs that celebrate the rich diversity of this district and of this community or programs that prepare our children for the realities of this world,” Crosson said.
The education department is also demanding the end of racial preferences in admissions, financial aid and hiring.
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