Dozens of residents and community leaders told the School Board of Palm Beach County on Tuesday that the district should not dismantle its diversity, equity and inclusion policies in response to a U.S. Department of Education “Dear Colleague” letter.

The public-comment period drew repeated appeals from civil-rights organizations, parents and educators who said the board’s recent, rapid moves on DEI and related hiring practices will hurt students and the community. Diedrich Strahan, president of the South Palm Beach County NAACP, told the board, “I plead with this board to stop your measures of rolling back your DEI policies.”

Speakers described the federal letter — and the threat of lost funding the letter raised — as political pressure, not binding law. Hazel Lucas, who identifies herself with the Coalition for Black Student Achievement, told the board that the coalition “requested that the school board not move forward with making permanent policy changes in response to US DOE’s Dear Colleague letter,” and said courts have found the letter legally weak. Several commenters urged the district to protect minority- and women-owned business contracting programs and other equity-focused initiatives.

Board members did not take new policy action on DEI during the meeting. Instead, members heard extended public testimony. David Rodriguez, a former educator, said removing contracting preferences and equity policies would reduce opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses and erode trust: “These policies have created more equitable opportunities for local businesses,” he said.

Other speakers called on the board to resist federal or state pressure. Eric Vandernow said the district’s mission statement commits it to “an equity embedded school system,” and asked the board to “be on the right side of that history.” Deborah Walker, who identified herself as the daughter of a longtime district teacher, warned that restricting programs or curricular attention to student identity could harm vulnerable children.

Board-level votes earlier in the meeting touched on committee appointments related to the district’s advisory bodies. The board ratified committee membership for the District Diversity and Equity Committee in a recorded vote that passed 6–1, with Board Member Gloria Branch opposing that specific appointment vote. Speakers at the podium repeatedly referenced an earlier emergency vote and urged the board to reverse any rollback of DEI language.

The board did not adopt any new DEI ordinance or formal roll-back during the session. Several speakers said they would press legal and community action if protections were removed.

Looking ahead, speakers asked the board to consider the potential legal and community consequences of policy changes and to allow more time for community review before making permanent changes.