Parents urge clear district communication on school choice, funding and DEI during Oak Ridge public forum

Parents at the Oak Ridge Board of Education public forum raised questions about how recent or proposed state actions could affect enrollment, funding and school practices.

Kimberly Veil, who identified herself as a Jefferson Middle School parent, asked how "school of choice" rules from the state might affect cross-boundary enrollments in Oak Ridge and whether the district planned any protocol "to protect our school district." "I'm concerned about how that's gonna impact our schools and if people are going to just be flooding to our community," she said. The superintendent replied that staff would gather information and contact her directly if she left her contact information.

Another parent, Haley Turner, said she felt the district had not provided sufficient information about how recent legislation might affect local schools. Turner said she was especially concerned about possible funding losses for Title I schools, the potential for Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence on campuses, and a legislative requirement she described as giving schools two weeks to remove DEI-related programs. "As a parent, I don't feel informed," she said. She asked what the district could communicate now and what planning was under way.

Board leadership did not provide a policy decision at the meeting but said staff would follow up with each speaker. "You—ve got a lot of different questions there," the superintendent said, and offered to have staff contact the speakers once more information was available. The board did not take formal action on the topics during the meeting.

Speakers at the forum were advised to sign in and provide contact information so district staff could respond directly. No vote or directive regarding the legislative items was recorded on the meeting agenda.

The board—s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 5 at 5:00 p.m. in the Keyes Fillour Boardroom.