Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Diversity Equity Inclusion topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Candidates split on DEI policy at East Islip forum
Summary
Incumbent Timothy Sasson said he voted against the district’s DEI policy and called it politically tinged, while Dr. Michelle Rivers defended DEI as a governance tool to make students from different backgrounds feel seen and affirmed.
At a Suffolk Region PTA–moderated candidate forum, Timothy Sasson said he opposed adoption of the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policy when it came up for a vote and called parts of it politically motivated. "I was one of the two important as a voter against the DEI policy," Sasson said, adding he believed existing law already requires respectful and fair treatment.
Dr. Michelle Rivers said she "does not believe that DEI should be abolished as a policy," and described policies as tools that can help organizations ensure people "feel seen, feel heard, and affirmed." Rivers said she recognized DEI has been used politically in some contexts but said she views it primarily as a means to create inclusive school environments.
Both candidates framed DEI within broader district responsibilities: Sasson argued policy language should avoid what he called political overtones while Rivers emphasized the board's role in setting policies that reflect shared values and protect student belonging. The forum included no formal board action on DEI; it functioned as a public discussion of candidate positions ahead of the May vote.
