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Residents press Valley View board on DEI and mask policies; superintendent to follow up
Summary
During public comment at the Jan. 27 meeting, residents criticized the district’s DEI work and asked about a mask-mandate policy; the superintendent said he would research the questions and respond.
Several residents used the Jan. 27 public-comment period at the Valley View CUSD 365U board meeting to criticize the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work and to ask whether a mask-mandate policy remains in effect.
Jim Fisher, who identified himself as the father of current and former district students, told the board he believed the district’s DEI initiatives were misguided and asked Superintendent Dr. Wood when remaining DEI staff would be removed. Fisher also said he no longer supports the district’s approach to pandemic-related policies and asked whether a mask-mandate policy tied to local metrics remains on the books. "When are you going to fire the other staff members that are still on your staff under the DEI organization for this district?" Fisher asked. He later asked whether the district still has a policy to mandate masks if certain metrics are met.
Dr. Wood replied, "I'll research that and get back to you," when asked about the district’s mask policy.
Other speakers pushed back against Fisher’s broader assertions about DEI and COVID responses. Resident Bill Spengler said the district should pursue inclusion and argued that rhetoric attacking DEI creates safety concerns for LGBTQ+ students. In his remarks, Spengler warned that rhetoric directed at minority groups can produce real safety threats and asked the community to prioritize inclusion.
Why it matters: Public comments spotlight community divisions over DEI, transgender-student accommodations and pandemic responses. The superintendent committed to researching the existence or status of a previously discussed mask-mandate policy and to follow up.
Details and context from the meeting: Fisher raised multiple topics during his comment, including the district’s mask guidance and staffing in DEI; Dr. Wood did not remove staff or announce policy changes at the meeting. The board’s public-comment rules were read at the start of the period and the board did not take formal action on the statements during the meeting.
What to watch: If the superintendent reports back with policy changes or clarifications about DEI staffing, the board could consider formal action. The board’s agenda later included routine administrative items but did not include a DEI staffing decision.
(Reporting note: quotes and attributions come from public-comment audio during the Jan. 27 meeting.)
