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Community members urge board to reinstate diversity and equity policies after emergency rollback
Summary
Several speakers during public comment urged the board to reinstate long-standing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies that were rescinded at a prior emergency meeting, warning the changes harm students and the community.
Multiple members of the public used the May 7 meeting’s public-comment period to urge the School Board of Palm Beach County to restore diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies the board rescinded at an emergency meeting earlier this spring.
Speakers said the policies were not only legal but essential to ensuring the district’s workforce, contracting and student services reflect the county’s diversity. Julie Seaver, executive director of Compass (the LGBTQ community center of the Palm Beaches), said removing the protections was “not a neutral or safe act” and asked the board to "lead with courage, clarity, and care." Max Fanning, founder and executive director of Prism, a youth-led nonprofit, called the prior emergency rollbacks a concession to political pressure and argued the district should reinstate the policies.
Several speakers cited concerns that the district’s prior compliance with federal civil-rights requirements had been mischaracterized during the emergency vote. Speakers referenced Title 6 (as cited in public comments) and federal court rulings; one speaker said three federal judges had blocked attempts to withhold federal funds for districts that retained similar policies.
Board members did not take formal action on the public comments at this meeting. Multiple speakers asked the board to reverse the prior emergency vote and reinstate EEO and DEI policies; they warned that removing the protections sends a message to students and staff that the district will not stand by longstanding equity commitments.
The board acknowledged the comments and said administration would follow up. No motion to reinstate policies was made on May 7.
