MNPS Strikes References to DEI in District Policy

The Metro Nashville Public Schools board approved changes to its policy in regard to diversity, equity and inclusion standards at its Tuesday night meeting. 

The school board removed references to DEI within district policy in order to comply with the "Dismantling DEI Departments Act" and the "Dismantle DEI in Employment Act" recently passed by the state legislature. The legislation prohibits state and local governments — including boards of education — from maintaining departments that promote DEI and bars governmental bodies from using hiring practices based on an applicant's race, ethnicity, gender, age or other demographic characteristic. 

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Board members expressed their feelings of opposition to the laws but acknowledged they were required to remove the references from the policy. District 9 representative Abigail Taylor, who authored the education equity section of MNPS policy, voted against the change. 

“I find this particular directive the opposite of what should be intended for our school system and our society as a whole,” Taylor said. 

MNPS recently retooled its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to instead be the Office of Student Success and Opportunity. MNPS spokesperson Sean Braisted told Scene sister publication the Nashville Post earlier this month that this change began prior to the implementation of federal executive orders or state laws. 

“This updated name more accurately reflects the core of our work: ensuring every student has access to the resources, support and opportunities they need to thrive — regardless of background or circumstance,” Braisted said. 

The policy change also removes the school district’s Diversity Business Enterprise program, which MNPS paused in April. The program had emphasized diversity in what vendors, suppliers and contractors the school system uses. 

This comes on the heels of Metro Nashville’s recent rollback of DEI initiatives in compliance with the state legislation. 

The board is set to consider additional policy changes at a meeting on Aug. 12. These include adding the definition of antisemitism to the MNPS’ discrimination policies, called for by another piece of state legislation. 

School board Vice Chair Berthena Nabaa-McKinney is suggesting that the board add definitions of Islamophobia and other forms of prejudices. 

Policies surrounding charter schools and wireless communication policies will also be discussed at the August meeting. 

Also on Tuesday, the MNPS board voted to approve a $6.5 million settlement with five former Nashville school administrators. The plaintiffs — who brought their suit in 2020 — accused Director of Schools Adrienne Battle of retaliation for the loss of their jobs. The settlement is one of the largest in MNPS history.

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.