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District leaders say federal guidance on race in education is still evolving; assurances offered to concerned parent
Summary
A community member asked whether Executive Order 14148 and a U.S. Department of Education letter would affect students and programming; Superintendent and assistant superintendent said the district follows Ohio law and board policy and that federal guidance is still forthcoming.
At the Feb. 25 meeting a community member asked whether an executive order (Executive Order 14148) and a U.S. Department of Education "Dear Colleague" letter would lead to students being questioned or removed without guardians present and how new federal guidance would affect arts, music and cultural programming.
Kathy Covarubias of 879 Richmond Road in Lyndhurst raised two questions during the public-comment period: whether students could be questioned or taken without a guardian or lawyer present, and whether the Department of Education guidance—which she cited in a letter distributed on Friday—would limit use of race in school activities, affecting programming and cultural celebrations.
Superintendent Kyle Capel (read at the meeting as the district's superintendent) responded that the district follows the Ohio Revised Code and board policies in such incidents and that principals are trained to contact the board office and the district's attorneys if a subpoena or warrant is presented. "We always follow ORC and our board policies," the superintendent said.
Assistant Superintendent Melissa Thompson said the civil-rights office of the U.S. Department of Education distributes letters to educators but that the guidance cited at the meeting was new and still evolving. Thompson said she reviewed the letter and found the DOE had indicated that additional legal guidance would follow and that some referenced hyperlinks were not yet functional when she checked the department's website. "At this point ... additional legal guidance will follow in due course," she said, adding that the district is consulting with state associations and its attorneys and will update policies if required.
Board members told attendees they had reached out to local legislators and encouraged residents to participate in roundtables and open houses being held by elected officials. The board did not adopt any changes to district policy at the meeting; the discussion was presented as informational and as a reassurance that the district will act on binding legal guidance as it becomes available.
