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Sioux Falls resident urges board to ban DEI policies, requests George Orwell's 1984 be required reading
Summary
During public comment, resident Chad Bishop asked the board to require George Orwell's 1984 for juniors and seniors and urged elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) language and programs in district policy, citing historical investigations and national figures.
Chad Bishop, who identified his address as 7405 South Valencia Drive, spoke during the meeting's public comment period and urged the board to require George Orwell's novel 1984 and a study of propaganda for juniors and seniors. He also urged the board to adopt a resolution striking district language and policies that he characterized as part of "DEI" (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives.
Bishop referenced the 1975 Church Committee's hearings and said the committee found extensive connections between intelligence agencies and the press. He told the board he saw parallels between that history and recent disclosures and said, "I see this request as timely as we watch the unraveling of a 20 first century version of Orwell's Ministry of Truth in real time." He also asked for a follow‑up from the board on AP African American Studies curriculum and whether the curriculum in question matched materials banned elsewhere.
Why it matters
Public comment items signal community concerns and requests the board may choose to address or to inform in future agenda work. Bishop requested a formal resolution to remove equity language from district policies and asked for a staff follow‑up on AP course curriculum questions and potential liabilities he said could arise from DEI policies.
What the board did
Bishop completed his remarks and asked the board for a courtesy follow‑up; no formal board action was taken at the meeting on his requests. The transcript records no immediate response from the board beyond the standard public comment procedure.
Context and claims
Bishop referenced national figures and events (including the Church Committee and comments about DEI by public figures) to frame his request. Those references were presented as the speaker's assertions; the board did not verify or endorse the factual claims during the meeting and did not adopt any resolution in response.
Ending
The board moved on to its regular agenda after public comment. Bishop said he has raised these topics at prior meetings and requested the board provide the follow‑up he asked for.
