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Community member urges board to reinstate diversity leadership, calls for HR review
Summary
Chris Miles of the Community Diversity Council criticized the district’s decision to abolish the director of diversity role and urged a board review of the chief human resources officer; he suggested renaming the role to chief student engagement officer and recommended Samantha Pitts for that position.
Chris Miles, chairman of the Community Diversity Council, told the school board March 10 that the director of diversity role was abolished too quickly and without sufficient board consultation. Miles asked the trustees to evaluate district leadership and requested a formal review of the chief human resources officer.
Miles said the director-of-diversity position had been eliminated without the board's consent and questioned whether the board’s attorney had been consulted before the change. He said the decision harmed the district’s ability to address diversity and employee concerns and urged the board to consider reestablishing the role with a new title, “chief student engagement officer.” Miles placed Samantha Pitts on the record as a recommended candidate and said he had not yet discussed the suggestion with her.
A board member interjected during the remarks to caution against personal attacks and suggested Miles could set up a meeting with the superintendent. Miles said he would like a board member to make a motion to change the role and to start a review process; the board paused his remarks when his time expired.
Ending: The board took no immediate action. Miles asked the trustees to open a formal review of the human-resources leadership and to consider restoring a district-level engagement or diversity position; staff and board members indicated they would consider his request and follow established personnel-review processes.
