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Students and community members urge action after resignation, call for anti-bias hiring and clearer SEL data
Summary
Multiple student speakers said Dr. Tesfa Stewart's resignation exposed "systemic inequities"; they urged anti-bias hiring practices, better support for staff of color and more transparent SEL (Panorama) data and follow-up from the district.
Several students and community members used the public-comment period to address what they said was the larger context behind Dr. Tesfa Stewart's resignation.
"His resignation was one of the most valiant choices I've ever seen someone make," said Mai Ganeshanathan, a junior, describing the loss students of color feel when a staff member of color leaves. Multiple student commenters described Dr. Stewart as a mentor and urged the board and administration to "eliminate systemic racism" and make concrete changes to hiring and retention practices.
Jay Warner, co-leader of the Hastings Affinity Club, said students feel that progress on diversity and belonging has been too slow and called for immediate, visible steps. Commenters asked the board to adopt anti-bias hiring processes, use external consultants as needed, and publish more disaggregated Panorama SEL data. Community members said the data cycle should produce actionable interventions and not only annual summaries.
Administrators acknowledged the concerns and said they were tightening the district's data-review cycle, giving counselors access to Panorama outputs, and planning clearer ownership of the survey and post-survey interventions. The board did not adopt a new policy during the meeting; staff said steps are underway to review hiring practices, data administration and intervention protocols.
