Akron board refers proposed repeal of three DEI policies to equity committee amid federal guidance and public outcry

The Akron Public School Board on Feb. 24 moved to refer proposed rescissions of three district DEI-related policies and one bylaw to the equity committee for further review, after the superintendent and the district's legal counsel described federal guidance that could put district federal funding at risk and dozens of residents urged the board not to repeal the policies.

Board President Carla Jackson moved the referral, which was seconded by Member Amelia Sykes and approved in a roll-call vote reported as four yes votes with three abstentions. The items include Board Policy 22-60.04 (equity policy), Board Policy 22-60.05 (working definitions for diversity, equity, inclusion and excellence in education), Board Policy 22-60.07 (racial equity policy) and Board Bylaw 155 Section D (Equity Committees). Earlier in the meeting the board had voted to amend the agenda to add those items for first reading.

The referral followed a presentation from the district's legal counsel summarizing a Feb. 14, 2025 Dear Colleague letter from the U.S. Department of Education. Counsel told the board the guidance interprets Title VI and related authorities to bar use of race in ways the Department describes as impermissible and sets a compliance date the letter counts from its issuance. Counsel described the letter as an agency interpretation and said it is part of the context the board should consider.

Superintendent Robinson told the board the district receives about $85 million in federal funding in the current year and recommended sending the policies back to committee so staff and the board can "massage" language and determine how to comply with the federal guidance while preserving protections for students. "Due to those unknowns related to this directive and risk associated with federal funding at this time, I do recommend to the board that we look into the process of rescinding those policies, taking those to the committee where we can further, massage them and really delve into what we need to do in order to meet those obligations," the superintendent said.

Several public speakers urged the board to keep DEI policies intact or to amend them narrowly rather than repeal them. Olivia Loughrey, an intervention specialist, testified about classroom staffing and placements for students with disabilities and said, "We are at a breaking point and nobody appears to care enough to actually listen to us." Dr. Megan Lugo, a University of Akron faculty member, urged the board to amend language rather than remove it: "I choose the latter and I hope you all do too because that's what our children deserve from leaders and educators and our school system at this time? Courage," she said. Anna Stevenson, a nonresident who said many friends are APS graduates, warned that federal and state actions against DEI send a pointed message to marginalized students.

Several board members raised conflict-of-interest concerns before the agenda amendment and referral votes. Member Amelia Sykes said she believed three board members had relatives employed in DEI work and asked the board to consider recusal. Sykes stated, "It is not enough to simply abstain ... we need to recuse ourselves," and urged the board to seek legal guidance. President Jackson and other members pointed to existing board policy language on recusals and said the members should refrain from discussion and voting where a conflict exists; the referred process will include committee review and, as the board directed, further legal consultation where appropriate.

Legal counsel and the superintendent said the intention of the referral to the equity committee is to allow more public input and a deliberate review of the policies and any job descriptions that relate to equity work before returning the matter to the full board. The board announced a special equity committee meeting to be noticed for Feb. 26 (to occur after legal/contract discussions) to consider the matters.

The board did not adopt or rescind any of the listed policies at the Feb. 24 meeting; the action taken was to move the items into new business and refer them to committee for further deliberation.