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Parents and students urge Poway Unified board to restore eliminated diversity and equity role
Summary
Parents and students told the Poway Unified School District board they were disappointed by the elimination of the district's diversity, equity and inclusion position and urged the board to make equity work a continuing priority; one public commenter framed DEI programs as legally vulnerable.
Parents, students and community members pressed the Poway Unified School District board on April 10 to restore a recently eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion position and to keep equity work a district priority.
At public comment, a parent identified as Patrice said she was "so disappointed" by the elimination and described social‑media accounts and family reports showing difficult experiences for some Black and Brown students. "It is a gut punch for the experience that some of our Brown and Black children are having in our district," Patrice said, urging trustees to do "what we know is right for our children."
Joanna Flores, a 17‑year‑old junior at Poway High School, said eliminating the role raises questions about how the district will continue efforts to ensure schools are safe and inclusive for minority students. "Making racial equity and inclusion a priority helps give all minority students the opportunity to speak up for themselves and know that they are in a safe place to do so," she told the board.
A third public commenter, Frank Xu, who identified himself as representing the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation, urged the board to "stay away from diversity, equity, and inclusion," saying some DEI efforts are legally vulnerable. Xu referenced a recent legal settlement involving the San Diego Housing Commission and argued the board should avoid programs he described as unconstitutional.
Board members did not take formal action during the public comment period. Several trustees later reiterated the district's continuing work on equity in staff reports and requested follow‑up presentations and data if the public requested further detail. Superintendent Dr. Churchill and other staff acknowledged the concerns and said the district would continue work on student supports, including programs and processes discussed later in the meeting.
Why it matters: Speakers framed the removal of a DEI position as a policy decision that could affect minority students' access to supports and the district's ability to respond to equity concerns. The remarks also touched on a legal and political debate about DEI in public institutions, with at least one speaker asserting a legal risk to such programs.
What’s next: No board motion to restore the position was recorded at this meeting. The board accepted the public comments as part of the record; district staff said they would continue related work and respond to requests for follow‑up information.
