Public commenters urge Hamilton County board to oppose vouchers and immigration-linked enrollment bills, raise DEI concerns

Multiple members of the public used the meeting’s delegation period to urge the Hamilton County Board of Education to oppose state voucher proposals and to raise concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

Janette Almarkel criticized recent state-level proposals she said would restrict access to public schools for children lacking lawful presence and could require parents to present birth certificates or U.S. identification to enroll children. Almarkel cited several bills by number and said they “authorize local education agencies and charter schools to refuse enrollment of students who are unlawfully present,” and that requiring verification or tuition would be “a direct challenge to a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe.” She asked the board to “take a stand against these policies that are aimed at harming our innocent children.”

Another speaker, Rebecca Day, referenced a February 14, 2025, letter from the U.S. Department of Education concerning DEI and said some districts are rebranding DEI positions; she urged the board to review materials and to consider encouraging state-level reporting or oversight. Day said she and others planned to contact Tennessee’s attorney general about creating a portal for reporting DEI concerns.

Speakers framed their remarks as appeals to protect public-education funding and to avoid policies that would exclude children or reduce per-pupil funding. Board members did not take action during the delegation period; the comments were heard as public testimony.