Board member urges DEI work be active, not paperwork, and offers personal testimony

During board comments a member spoke at length about diversity, equity and inclusion implementation, urging the district to move beyond paperwork and build practical supports such as trained volunteers and an expert navigator to help manage affinity groups and difficult conversations.

The board member framed DEI as addressing social well‑being and warned against eliminating the work because doing so would worsen existing problems: “Eliminating DEI won’t resolve existing issues. It will actually make it worse,” the member said. She argued implementation must be attentive to avoiding harm and stereotypes and asked the district to focus on practical, in‑person interventions rather than formal documentation alone.

The board member recounted a recent local incident as background for the plea: she described being publicly challenged in a parking encounter and said these episodes are part of many families’ lived experience. She also said the district had recently received a letter that used the “n word,” and urged simpler, immediate interventions — “When they do something… look them in the eye and say, not again,” she said — alongside formal supports so that students and families can grieve and be heard.

The speaker recommended establishing a team of trained volunteers and an expert navigator (possibly a clinician or experienced practitioner) to work with staff, volunteers and affinity groups, saying the role should have practical authority and relevant training rather than being purely administrative. The board member thanked administrators and named Dr. Samanski for ongoing support.

The board president acknowledged the comment and scheduled a DEI update for a future meeting; the board member said she will share concerns in writing ahead of that presentation.