STANWOOD — A Stanwood-Camano School Board member is facing criticism after pushing to change anti-discrimination language in a policy proposal last month.
In a March 19 meeting, board member Betsy Foster proposed amendments to the Washington State School Directors’ Association policy.
“Equity is foundational to the work of WSSDA,” the policy reads. “Educational equity can only exist when a student’s level of opportunity and achievement cannot be predicted based on race, characteristics, or circumstances. Therefore, we must identify and eliminate any discriminatory, practices, and prejudices within our State’s public education system.”
Foster wanted to cut that final sentence.
Foster’s rationale read: “The original position suggests we have discriminatory practices and prejudices in our education system, so we removed some language and replaced it with personal characteristics.”
The school board meeting prompted the Island County Board of Health to send a letter April 16, expressing “dismay” at statements made in the meeting.
The letter also called on the district to “maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion language in school policies.”
Island County commissioner Janet St. Clair initially brought the issue to the attention of her fellow commissioners, county Public Health Director Shawn Morris wrote in an email. After discussion, the commission referred it to the Board of Health, who voted to send the letter.
“Our goal was to show solidarity with the school board’s decision to uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion policies as key values that support the health and well-being of children an their families,” Morris wrote. “Second, it was important to support the students, parents, caregivers, and educators impacted by this situation.”
Each year, school boards across the state propose revisions to the association’s advocacy policy. Some school board members around the state are pushing these policy changes, Foster wrote in a text message to The Daily Herald.
“Just a group of 100 + or – people who want to learn & find solutions to help students thrive in their environment,” she wrote.
That policy guides the association’s efforts to advocate to state legislators.
In a statement, the district’s equity team said it was “disappointed that some members of our elected school board violated their own policy. During the board study session, mutual respect was not demonstrated toward students and staff.”
The U.S. Department of Education received nearly 19,000 civil rights complaints covering the nation’s universities, colleges and public schools from Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 20, 2022. It was the highest number for one fiscal year on record.
Foster’s revisions also advocated for stronger local control, including a section that stated “laws, regulations, and policies should be written to support, never to limit or impede the powers of locally elected school directors and boards.”
She also called for significant changes to the school directors’ association’s diversity position. The association considers platform revisions from school boards at its general assembly meeting in September.
The school directors’ association can’t force school boards to adopt policy. Local control became a hot-button issue during the pandemic, when school districts were required to adhere to state health mandates to prevent spread of the disease.
“Betsy Foster emphasizes the importance of a world-class education system in America, citing low math proficiency among students,” Foster said in a voicemail to The Herald. “She believes equity should be addressed, but first and foremost, quality education should be provided to give children a chance in life and attract students from all over. Foster stresses the need for a focus on quality education rather than equity, as she believes this will lead to a more inclusive and successful education system.”
“They wouldn’t be district positions if they had been voted on and passed,” Foster added in a text message. “It would help move them forward to the general assembly, which they will be there regardless of what happens now.”
In a statement last month, district Superintendent Deborah Rumbaugh said “our district’s Educational Equity Policy — and similar policies across the state — help us strengthen our commitment to our District Promise by providing a framework for dismantling barriers and creating individualized supports.”
“Interactions between board members and our students and staff should align with our policies,” Rumbaugh said. “We did not see this with all board members this week.”
About 30,000 voters live in the Stanwood-Camano School District. The district’s student count is 4,872, according to the state.
The changes to diversity and equity language did not end up being adopted, but Foster said the amendments she proposed will be discussed at the general assembly meeting in the fall.
Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jordyhansen.
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