DEI takes center stage during public comments

by Judy Stringer

March 10 school board meeting

DEI was the topic at hand as students and residents shared their perspectives on recent district changes in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s directive to eliminate diversity equity, and inclusion programs or risk losing federal funding. 

Chief among those changes – approved by the Hudson Board of Education at a special meeting on Feb. 28 – was replacement of the DEI coordinator position with a newly created engagement and achievement coordinator position and transition of former DEI Coordinator Nyree Wilkerson into that new role.

“These actions were taken to align to our mission statement, modify the role and its corresponding responsibilities, acknowledge how the role has evolved to support the needs of our students over the past couple years, and to comply with federal laws and guidance,” board President Steve DiMauro told the audience before the public comment period. “It was not simply a change in name.”

According to the minutes from the Feb. 28 special meeting, other immediate actions by the district included removing questions under DEI and “Cultural Awareness and Action” topics as part of a regularly conducted student survey and removing the DEI pages on the district website.

At the March 10 meeting, DiMauro attributed the changes to the “risk and concern of losing $1.7 million in federal funding,” which supports students with disabilities. He assured attendees, however, that the district remains committed to providing “an educational program that maximizes the intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of each child in a safe, nurturing and diverse environment, and ensuring that every child is welcome and afforded opportunities to reach their full potential.”

A clear majority of speakers and attendees expressed support for the district.

“The professionals that you employ should be telling our students that they belong, that they matter, that they all deserve a place in society. This should not be controversial, no matter what it is called. Anyone who says otherwise is not thinking of the well-being of our students,” said East Woods Intermediate School teacher Matt McGown. He encouraged the board “to continue supporting efforts to create an inclusive environment for students.”

Resident Megan Higgins, mother of a second-grader, highlighted the importance of DEI programs for disabled students and shared personal experiences of how the district has supported her family and her daughter, Isabella, who has a disability.

“This week alone, Ellsworth is having Adaptive Sports Ohio in and teaching all the students how to play wheelchair basketball, and it’s been so incredibly fun,” she said.

Sharon Nivert, a fifth-grade teacher in Hudson, recalled positive experiences with the DEI framework and its impact on creating inclusive classrooms. Nybert and others said they support the transition to the new engagement and achievement coordinator role and Wilkerson’s leadership in the role.

“I have interacted with [Wilkerson] since my kids were little, and she was the gifted coordinator,” said resident Marietta Marquart. “She is such a resource, an asset. She is so professional, very inclusive, very even tempered, just an asset that would be a shame to lose.”

Several Hudson High School students urged the board not to limit classroom discussions based on recent federal directives and/or cut programs like Service Learning in which students often work with disadvantaged populations.

Two dissenting voices were residents Bill Klausman and Kathy Lowman, both of whom frequently criticize Hudson DEI programming. Klausman questioned the necessity of “overly” involving teachers in helping children feel included and suggested that students naturally form friendships through interactions on their own.

Lowman noted that no other candidates were considered for the newly created engagement and achievement coordinator position, and she blasted Superintendent Dana Addis for not specifying how the DEI coordinator title change and “elimination of DEI” will impact teachers and students in classrooms. She also claimed “more than one in 10 [Hudson] elementary kids can’t read or do math” and the district will be “over budget in two years.”

“Why wasn’t this DEI support program eliminated as a cost savings?” Lowman asked.

Commercial valuation challenges

As part of its legislative agenda, the board approved resolutions that permit it to file formal complaints challenging the valuation of two commercial buildings based on recent sales. The resolutions state that 9 Aurora St., a.k.a. Brewster Mansion, has a tax year 2024 value of $481,460, despite selling for $1.28 million in January 2023. An office building near Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy at 370 Falls Commerce Pkwy. is valued at $1.3 million, although it sold in February 2023 for $3.3 million.

“We believe that people should pay their fair share,” DiMauro said. “Given that there is a sale on record, we are contesting that accordingly.”

Treasurer Phil Butto added that defending valuations driven by fair market value “ensures commercial properties are taxed fairly and prevent unnecessary increases to residential taxes as a result.”

The board also accepted three retirements. Jean Graham, a school psychologist who has been with the district for 24 years, will retire on June 5. Cathy Hupcej, a custodian with 25 years of service, retires on June 30, and Hudson Middle School teacher Sheila Pressler retires Aug. 10. She’s been with the district for 33 years. ∞