MSAD 51 equity committee presents revised DEI plan; board told vote is expected in March

The RSU 51/MSAD 51 Equity Leadership Steering Committee presented a revised district DEI plan and recommended steps for accountability, measurement and community engagement.

Kim, chair of the committee, described structural changes to the plan: a clearer guiding‑principles preamble, a simplified grid of initiatives and outcomes, and a set of "necessary steps" the committee recommends to district leadership. "By fostering an inclusive district culture and providing differentiated support, we will see that our students reach their academic potential," Kim read from the plan, framing the committee’s rationale for the changes.

Committee members and board members discussed the committee’s role (advisory vs. authority), the need for measurable outputs and whether the district should fund an external equity audit. Committee and administration sources said they have placed an equity audit in the proposed budget at about $15,000, though the committee noted that approving the plan and funding the audit are distinct board decisions tied to the budget process.

Board members asked for logic models or measurable outputs that would show whether necessary steps are producing the plan’s intended outcomes. Members also raised capacity questions: the plan relies on district staff time and committee participation, so some asked how the district would create capacity without new recurring positions. Several speakers urged that recommended training and data collection be staged and that the proposed equity audit be used to prioritize next steps.

The superintendent and administrators said the plan could be presented for board action in early March (noting March 4 as a likely vote date), and that the audit could be funded in the proposed budget or deferred pending the budget vote. Committee members emphasized ongoing community engagement and student voice as implementation priorities.