by Rebecca Gaunt
Thursday’s Cobb County school board work session got heated over the removal of the word “equitable” from a board policy on fiscal management and allocation of resources.
“Equity is baked into public education. That is why taking the word out, specifically in a funding policy, is problematic for me,” said Democratic board member Leroy Tre’ Hutchins.
“As a parent of Black and brown children, when I hear something like this, it feels racist in its intent, and I know that’s not our intention here today, but that’s what it feels like…I’m shocked that our educators, our professional staff thought this was okay.”
Darryl York, director of policy and planning, said the word was removed to clarify and improve readability.
Democratic board members Nichelle Davis and Becky Sayler also disagreed with the change during the contentious discussion.
Superintendent Chris Ragsdale objected to Hutchins’ comments about racism. A frustrated Hutchins replied that these were his personal feelings on the matter. Chairman Randy Scamihorn interjected to tell Hutchins he was out of order.
Agenda and policy changes can be found on the district website: Board Meeting Agenda (cobbk12.org)
Republican board member David Banks posited that leaving the word equitable in the policy would violate state law, to which York clarified that was not the case.
“I think the problem with the term equitable is it means something different to different people,” York said.
Board attorney Suzann Wilcox said that her firm had reviewed the policies and the wording was a matter for the board.
“I would like to point out that I did contact you, Mr. Ragsdale, about these words, and you said I could bring up those questions in the meeting,” Sayler said.
Ragsdale responded, “You did email me with a litany of comments. Not a whole lot of questions. And a debate, like we’re having in this board meeting right now is not gonna…
Read the full article here
