Residents urge Haslett Board to end or justify DEI efforts; district schedules May 6 meeting

At the public-comment portion of the Haslett Board of Education’s April 22 meeting, two residents sharply criticized the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and asked the board to provide data showing the programs’ effectiveness.

"What data and other evidence do you have to show that your DEI staff training and plan are working?" asked Jeff Kessler, who identified himself as a Haslett resident and urged the board to reply by email. Kessler cited national reporting and recent court activity and said he believed the district’s DEI plan should end. Later, Terry Geiersbach, a former special-education and regular-education teacher, echoed those concerns and asked how many anonymous teacher surveys had been conducted to capture staff opinion.

Commenters referenced national trends, litigation and reported staffing figures; the meeting record includes claims about DEI-related spending and staffing levels made by commenters but the board did not verify those figures during the meeting. For example, a commenter stated an annual DEI spending figure and a separate large aggregate number; those amounts are quoted here only as claims made at the microphone and have not been confirmed by district officials.

Superintendent Cook responded to board questions about DEI scheduling and announced a district-wide DEI meeting to be held May 6 at 6 p.m. in the Haslett Administration Building. "Only that our district wide DEI meeting is, May 6 at 6PM in this building," Cook said. The scheduled meeting provides an opportunity for the board and administration to address public questions about the district’s DEI activities and to present any available data.

The board did not take action on DEI policy during the April 22 meeting; public commenters requested email follow-up and additional transparency, and district staff indicated they could post survey results and related materials online if the board directs it.