School board votes 6-3 to certify compliance with federal guidance on diversity policies

The Virginia Beach School Board voted 6-3 on April 8 to direct the superintendent to sign a certification of compliance with recent U.S. Department of Education guidance and to take steps the board said will align division programs and policies with that guidance.

The measure, introduced by School Board member David Culpepper and seconded by Mr. Belensteel, directs the superintendent to work with legal counsel to rename the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, suspend any educational program offerings found not to comply with federal guidance, and present recommended policy and strategic-framework changes by late May. Chair Kathleen Brown brought the motion to a vote after extended public comment and nearly two hours of board debate.

Why it matters: Chair Kathleen Brown said the division receives federal funds totaling $74,285,975, and the board framed the vote as a way to preserve those federal dollars, which support Title I, special education, school nutrition and other programs. The resolution also sets internal deadlines: policy-review recommendations by May 31 and suggested strategic-framework edits by May 15 (dates as stated in the board motion).

Board debate and amendments: David Culpepper, School Board member, argued the board had two choices: “either honor the guidance we've been given and certify that we have done so and accept federal funds in exchange or to basically state that we don't agree with these practices and to turn [the funds] down,” and he urged accepting the guidance to preserve funding. Culpepper read the resolution aloud before the vote.

Doctor L. Green, School Board member, opposed the measure and characterized the resolution as “offensive” and likely to disrupt student services if applied too broadly. Green said the language contained “ambiguities” and warned that suspension of programs could unintentionally affect coursework, tutoring and services for vulnerable students. Green said he would not vote for the resolution.

Other board members voiced a mix of views. Some said immediate action was needed to protect federal funding and to reduce the school division’s legal exposure; others urged caution and more public input before any program suspensions. A motion by Board member Mr. Cummings to defer the vote to a later meeting failed (3 yes, 6 no). A substitute resolution offered by Board member Miss Rogers — which removed the word “suspend” and narrowed some provisions to require review and compliance with federal and state law — was voted down (2 yes, 7 no).

Superintendent Kevin Robertson (title shown on agenda) and School Board Attorney Camille Linetti were present during the discussion; Linetti advised how the policy review process would proceed and how legal counsel would be involved. Robertson cautioned that some curriculum standards and state-required reporting could be affected and said division staff had concerns about the operational impacts of suspending policy.

Outcome and next steps: The resolution passed on a 6-3 vote. It directs the superintendent to: work with counsel to comply with Title VI guidance; rename the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office; suspend educational program offerings found not to comply with federal guidance; have the policy review committee bring recommended changes to certain policies by May 31; and sign and submit the requested certification to the Virginia Department of Education. The board asked staff and legal counsel to provide timely updates to the full board as work proceeds.

The vote followed public comment earlier in the meeting in which multiple speakers expressed opposing views on federal guidance and local DEI work (see related article summarizing public comment).