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Board honors employees, volunteers and student athletes; public commenters debate Title IX and DEI
Summary
The board recognized an employee and volunteers of the month and state-champion athletic teams; public comments included a Moms for Liberty representative raising concerns about Title IX rule changes and a community speaker thanking the board for supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.
At its Aug. 13 meeting the Guilford County Board of Education recognized Maria Hernandez Natal as employee of the month, presented certificates to Elon Law Reaches Out volunteers and honored multiple state-champion high-school track teams.
Chair Dina Hayes introduced Maria Hernandez Natal and read a citation describing her role supporting the communications and chief-of-staff offices; Chief Communications Officer Dr. Tracy Lewis was quoted praising Maria's "professionalism and commitment to our team and to Guilford County Schools." The board also presented $50 gift cards courtesy of Toyota of Greensboro to volunteers and said photos would be displayed at district offices.
During public comment Maria Adams, chapter chair of Moms for Liberty Guilford County, identified herself as a parent and said she would email details about legal challenges to recent Title IX rule changes, stating a federal court in Kansas had issued an opinion halting changes in some jurisdictions. Betsy Harrington spoke in support of the district's approach to inclusive curricula and praised the board for "not bending to that kind of loud voice" that she said is pushing book bans or restricting instruction on race and identity.
The board set standard public-comment procedures (three minutes per speaker, no naming of students or staff) and invited district staff to meet with speakers in the lobby if follow-up assistance was appropriate.
