The school board’s policy committee presented several proposed first‑read edits on Sept. 8 that would remove or rephrase language referencing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) from a set of district policies, prompting board members to request more time and to place some items on next week’s action calendar.
Committee chair Gordon Palmer said the proposed changes respond to federal guidance, including a U.S. Department of Education “Dear Colleague” letter that clarified which uses of race or diversity language fall under civil‑rights law and to advice circulated by the North Carolina School Boards Association. The policies presented for first read included school assignment and program-choice language (policy 41.50), fair and consistent discipline (43.03), parent organizations (50.10), recruitment and selection of personnel (71.00) and several technical updates elsewhere.
Several board members said they had questions about both the legal reasoning and the practical effect of removing terms such as “equity” or “socioeconomic diversity” from policy text. Board member Pam Escobar said she was “disheartened” by removing diversity language and requested item 6.01 (the DEI-related policies) be scheduled for action so the full board could debate the changes. Other trustees asked staff and the board attorney to confirm the implications and whether additional edits (for example, timelines for reconsideration or appeals) should be revised before any approval.
Board attorney William Eisenhower, the policy committee and staff said the committee considered the proposed edits carefully and is balancing compliance with federal guidance against the district’s interest in diversity and nondiscrimination; they noted that some changes are technical and others respond to shifting legal opinions and pending legislative action.
The board agreed to carry the item forward for fuller review next week; staff also agreed to review a suggested change to an applicant‑appeal timeline in policy 41.50 and to provide clarifying material to trustees before the action meeting.