Public commenters and district staff press board on DEI after Department of Education directive; staff outline training and community programs

Public commenters at the April 10 Royal Oak Schools Board meeting urged the board to defend the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion work after a recent Department of Education directive, and district DEI staff described a string of trainings and student programs underway.

Laura Sayan, speaking during public comment, urged the board to coordinate with the superintendent, the Michigan Department of Education, the governor’s office and legal counsel to protect the district’s DEI initiatives. Sayan said state education agencies and local districts have been asked to certify compliance with Title VI and with the legal framework established in Students for Fair Admissions, and noted the Department of Education had set a response deadline for state education agencies around April 24.

DEI director Ashley Phillips presented an update on local work: staff attended the Leading to Liberate conference; the district ran Courageous Conversations professional development during late starts; student JEDI groups and book‑of‑the‑month initiatives are active at elementary levels; the Reading Rocks tour reached more than 550 students; Royal Oak participated in a Troy Schools learning lab with the National Equity Project; and school‑level inclusion and “You Matter” weeks are scheduled (Royal Oak High School April 28–May 2; Royal Oak Middle School May 19–23). Phillips also noted family‑engagement webinars and guidance to reduce burnout among special‑education staff.

Public commenter Michael Wurster said parents anticipate a forthcoming safety plan from the district safety committee and also warned about letters arriving at schools asking districts to cease DEI or inclusion programs; he urged the PTA and families to make their support for inclusion known. Clayton Whittle, another public speaker, described a proposed $500,000 Spencer Foundation grant application to create locally focused climate‑resilience education in partnership with NOAA and other research institutions; he asked the board to consider district partnership as decisions and grant windows are time‑sensitive.

Superintendent Fitzpatrick acknowledged the national context and said the district consults legal counsel on state and federal guidance; she described the district’s strategic plan commitments and encouraged families to enroll new students early so the district can plan staffing. Fitzpatrick also reported a district mini grant from Safe Routes to School for just under $100,000 and said the district is collecting walking/cycling data with the city and private schools in preparation for a major Safe Routes application in 2026.

Discussion vs. direction

- Discussion: Public commenters raised concerns about federal action and asked the board to publicly defend DEI and to partner on climate‑education grants. - Direction: Superintendent Fitzpatrick said staff will consult legal counsel and report back; DEI staff outlined existing programs and scheduled activities but the board took no formal vote on DEI policy at this meeting.

Clarifying details

- Department of Education directive: speakers said state education agencies have until April 24 to respond (as reported during public comment); the district said it will consult legal counsel. - Safe Routes to School: district awarded a mini grant just under $100,000 for health, wellness and program work; district collecting data now for a major 2026 application. - Reading Rocks tour: reached more than 550 students, per DEI report. - Inclusion/You Matter weeks: Royal Oak High School April 28–May 2; Royal Oak Middle School May 19–23.

Community relevance and next steps

District staff recommended continued outreach to families and staff around DEI programming, more public communication about the district’s response to federal guidance and legal consultation as needed. No board action was taken at this meeting to change DEI policy; Superintendent Fitzpatrick said the administration would pursue legal guidance and follow existing board policy and administrative procedures.