[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6677124,"mediaKeyId","2336770-728a3f6d3da934cb95fff580a663c964","parentId",2336770,"title","Public comments at Wake County board meeting split over DEI, Title IX and student safety","audioSeconds",4495,"startMs",597000,"endMs",5092000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2336770-728a3f6d3da934cb95fff580a663c964&start=597&end=5092","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2336770-728a3f6d3da934cb95fff580a663c964/thumbnail_597000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6677124/North-Carolina/Public-comments-at-Wake-County-board-meeting-split-over-DEI-Title-IX-and-student-safety","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677124-0161aac880c598baa66d6962c2fc3ab3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165342&Signature=KMpiOhkcXaOqp9JPjwGippTUO8tJhYtVDtfM4zo2GXKI55LgzXOfvjP34F1rqBUoII2tgNS1TO2UFALqqxXup8T1RGA7tccUKJXmIcYtK-QQJFObp54kN2YHNBtkSVHQrpYvTBD6almAVkrEGnDgmwBJAyWhVbMwKMjhx51RioPGI51AZ05za4W4jUINpQIB6KeQWrk8A6nYyYv9MxVB9uUIHMgWet8KPO~9sQP4jc513Vp6q5uxp2S6X2hoSZyX-5x9BKcDuQNMkLhffrnKxG2V-GBDC9BrClApZqnpEL7k2iO-VMI~ZZckVenZpqLu-ps~yz04Xu1uRiDMoXnTTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wake County Schools","date","2025-02-19T02:14:50.797Z","article","Dozens of community members and students spoke during the Feb. 18 public comment period at the Wake County Board of Education meeting, offering sharply contrasting views on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the district's Title IX policies and student safety.

Student speakers and educators urged board support for career-technical student organizations and for DEI-related student clubs. Sam Circosta, a student and DECA chapter officer, thanked the board for its support of DECA, saying the organization \"has provided us with countless opportunities for growth and success\" and noting chapter fundraising and competition results. Student speakers including Anjali Joseph and others asked for more resources for Career and Technical Student Organizations.

Several speakers called for protections for LGBTQ and immigrant students. Harper Rossi, a Cary High School student, told the board: \"In 2 weeks, Wake County schools are required to remove all programs relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes school clubs like the GSA, the Black Student Association, and the Latino Student Association.\" Rossi said GSAs and other student groups provide community and support.

Teachers, disability advocates and parents described harms they see from current policies and political debate and urged the board to protect vulnerable students. Christina Cole, a Wake County special-education teacher and union leader, told the board the U.S. Department of Education \"plays a vital role in safeguarding our most vulnerable student populations through policy and funding, including our disabled students who receive special education services and funding guaranteed under IDEA and 504 laws.\" Susan Book, a parent of a middle-schooler on the autism spectrum, said the system faces a \"special education crisis\" and urged the board to prioritize services and protection for students with disabilities.

Other public commenters asked the board to remove or restrain what they described as an ideological focus in the classroom. Speakers including Malik Small and Becky Lou Hobbs criticized DEI and some district practices; several speakers urged the board to rescind district DEI programming and questioned the district's Title IX policies. Jessica Lewis, identifying herself as vice chair of Moms for Liberty, urged the district to \"dismantle the Office of Equity Affairs\" and warned of potential federal funding consequences if DEI programs remained.

Speakers raised concerns about student safety in specific incidents. Gil Pagan described reported assaults on a nonverbal autistic student and questioned district responses; he urged firings and accountability for staff involved. Several parents described individual school disciplinary disputes and requests for staff changes.

Board and staff response: During board comment and superintendent remarks, Superintendent Robert Taylor reiterated the importance of federal funding lines for programs the district relies on, and he asked board members to consider the impact of changes to federal programs on services for special education and low-income students. Board members voiced a range of views in response to public comment: some urged compliance with federal directives and protecting federal funding that supports students; others emphasized returning to \"the basics\" of reading and math and questioned whether DEI and SEL programming had negative effects on student focus and achievement.

Why it matters: The public comment period reflected deep community division over DEI, Title IX and how the district should balance civil-rights protections, student privacy, safety and academic priorities. Multiple speakers cited federal guidance, lawsuits and administrative actions; several speakers raised mental-health and safety concerns tied to policing of school environments, library materials and extracurricular clubs.

What the board will do next: Members asked staff and legal counsel to continue advising the board on federal guidance; the board also adopted a federal legislative priorities statement at the meeting calling for continued support for Department of Education programs that fund services for vulnerable students. The board scheduled second readings for the policies advanced on first reading and set a March 4 vote for the Wendell-area school name after corrected public outreach results are compiled.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-02-18 Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of speakers at the Feb. 18 Wake County Board of Education meeting urged opposite courses on diversity, equity and inclusion and district Title IX policies, with several parents and students describing safety and mental-health concerns and others urging protection of clubs and supports for vulnerable students.","taxTitle","Wake County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14083,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6677126,"Wake County Board approves federal priorities, three policies on first reading; names Zebulon elementary",2307,6335000,8642000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2336770-728a3f6d3da934cb95fff580a663c964&start=6335&end=8642","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2336770-728a3f6d3da934cb95fff580a663c964/thumbnail_6335000.jpg","/articles/6677126/North-Carolina/Wake-County-Board-approves-federal-priorities-three-policies-on-first-reading-names-Zebulon-elementary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677126-014472a304b883352480420d759305ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165342&Signature=jUZAZJI-76nE4eUBcgStUBzs2t18L5yJ5AksaG9E7H1O1WDXI5A6Eu1f3bwhM8qXO4HqQAnCWD6oWzBL6rT1ilzqRLlv-Qa0XL1j74L9s1Ycpacty4-O5X3twcOBXzAp~zDJtNHHvq1hW~hreCQ75TZndZ65Ft6Cwl1IxwdjBi15TV6k~-~52pFxjXwKVqpA9UcKfOk97Ivq9a9JI0SvWl3IH4VPW~n1E6EwuodJTB6IBfClcxx36cv17-2QosiFjRlI-2ZgM21VtZpFU~xsOvm347~bEaJFBwI44rdL~CezgOql0mNSwerkHD4mvNq8QoiNjiRQ6QqLGqMlhPXSDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wake County Board of Education on Feb. 18 adopted a set of federal legislative priorities, approved three board policies on first reading and formally named the land-bank school in the Zebulon area Little Creek Elementary. The board also voted to delay a naming decision for a Wendell-area elementary to allow corrected and expanded public input.

Board members voted to adopt the board''s federal legislative priorities after a motion by Vice Chair Tyler Swanson and a second from member Mahaffey. The priorities highlight support for the U.S. Department of Education and programs the district said support special education, student mental health and school nutrition, and call for infrastructure funding and continued support for magnet and Title I programs.

The board advanced three policies on first reading. Dr. Mutillo presented the policies in committee and at the meeting: policy 74-32 (replacing older policy language related to athletic directors and coaches) passed on first reading; policy 7,900 (resignation) passed on first reading with one recorded dissent; and policy 79-10 (retirement) passed on first reading. Board discussion noted the resignation policy includes a 30-calendar-day notice requirement but acknowledged the board's ability to waive that notice for extenuating circumstances.

On school naming, the Facilities Committee recommended naming the Zebulon-area land-bank site Little Creek Elementary; the full board endorsed that recommendation (motion by Facilities chair Mister Hershey, seconded by Dr. Ng). For a Wendell-area land-bank site, the Facilities Committee had initially approved three candidate names (Marshburn Road, Lizard Lick and Fall Branch) and directed staff to seek public feedback. A separate option that appeared in the initial public survey, “North Wendell,” was not one of the three committee names. Board member Caulfield moved, and Hershey seconded, to reissue the public survey using only the three committee-approved names and to return the naming decision at the March 4 board meeting; the board approved that motion.

Other routine business on the Feb. 18 agenda included adoption of the consent agenda and a short list of personnel and administrative items included there. The board moved to closed session after public comment and board remarks.

Votes at a glance
- Federal legislative priorities: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Chair Tyler Swanson; second: Miss Mahaffey). Outcome: approved (no opposed votes recorded).
- Board policy 74-32 (athletic director / coaches): Motion to approve first reading (mover: Miss Edmonds; second: Mister Hershey). Outcome: approved on first reading (no opposed votes recorded).
- Board policy 7,900 (resignation): Motion to approve first reading (mover: Miss Edmonds; second: Mister Hershey). Outcome: approved on first reading; vote tally recorded as 8 in favor, 1 nay (Nay: Vice Chair Tyler Swanson).
- Board policy 79-10 (retirement): Motion to approve first reading (mover: Miss Evans; second: Mister Hershey). Outcome: approved on first reading (no opposed votes recorded).
- Little Creek Elementary (Zebulon land-bank site): Motion to accept Facilities Committee recommendation (mover: Mister Hershey; second: Dr. Ng). Outcome: approved.
- Wendell-area elementary (land-bank E57): Motion to reissue public survey using the three names recommended by Facilities Committee and revisit naming at the March 4 meeting (mover: Miss Caulfield; second: Mister Hershey). Outcome: approved.
- Consent agenda: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Chair Tyler Swanson; second: Miss Mahaffey). Outcome: approved.

Why it matters: Board actions on policy and federal priorities can affect district operations, staffing rules and the district's federal funding advocacy. Superintendent Robert Taylor told the board that federal programs provide funds that support services for students with disabilities, Medicaid-funded school-based services, Title I and magnet programs, and that those funds are an important component of the district's budget and services.

Context and next steps: The three policies advanced tonight proceed to second readings per board practice. The Wendell-area school name will return to the board March 4 after the corrected public survey is reopened and the board receives an updated summary of responses.

","At its Feb. 18 meeting the Wake County Board of Education adopted a federal legislative priorities statement, approved three board policies on first reading, approved the name Little Creek Elementary for a Zebulon-area land-bank site and delayed naming a Wendell-area school for additional public input.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public comments at Wake County board meeting split over DEI, Title IX and student safety

Wake County Board approves federal priorities, three policies on first reading; names Zebulon elementary