Residents clash over diversity, parental rights and school health services at public comment

Four community members and a former board member used the March 17 public-comment period to press the Faribault Public School District School Board on diversity, equity and inclusion, parental rights and whether health providers can refer or provide services to students without parental consent.

Yvette Marthaler, identified herself as a former board member and Faribault resident, urged the board to retain DEI as a framework for public education and described DEI as a tool to expand opportunities for students. "It’s a framework for the work that you do in public education that provides an opportunity for all students," she said.

Mike Lambert, who identified himself as a district graduate and taxpayer, argued that DEI programs are being portrayed as indoctrination and criticized local board members’ efforts he described as attempts to discriminate against gay and transgender students. He said the federal government’s actions on education funding and the Department of Education are creating broader challenges but urged the board not to remove local inclusion policies.

Janet Moline raised concerns about parental rights and school contracts with an organization she identified as Healthfinder. She said, based on her reading, Healthfinder is referring children as young as 12 for medical services without parental consent and asked the board to consider removing programs that "usurp or violate civil and parental rights."

Carolyn Treadway presented district-provided figures on projected federal funding losses should federal programs be cut. Citing numbers she said she received from the district finance director and the superintendent, she said the district could lose approximately $6,150,000 in federal funding — roughly 10% of the district budget — including about $1,100,000 in Title programs, $1,100,000 in special-education dollars, $2,500,000 for school lunches, about $1,000,000 for community-learning-center grants and $400,000 for fund-1 grants. She warned that losing federal funding would require service reductions or greater local taxpayer contributions.

None of the public-comment speakers asked the board to take an immediate vote on a specific policy; several urged the board to consider the legal and fiscal consequences of changes that would eliminate DEI components or grant-funded programs. Board chair John Bellingham acknowledged the comments and said the board would continue to examine policy and legal guidance as issues arise.

Ending: The board did not act directly on the public commenters’ requests at the meeting; several public-policy questions raised by speakers were addressed later in the meeting during policy discussion and by reference to legal counsel and committee review.