DEI Staffing Levels at Culver City Unified Considered by Board

At Tuesday's School Board meeting, a discussion of the staffing level within the District's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department was on the Culver City Unified School District Board of Education agenda. CCUSD's budget is the District's most significant challenge as officials seek ways to save money and supplement a barely legal reserve fund.

One-time funding to assist the District in weathering the COVID-19 pandemic was funneled into creating new positions and supplementing salaries. With that funding now gone and the positions still in place, a deficit has been created, contributing to the District's reserves falling to just above the legally allowed amount over the past several years.

This is the backdrop of Tuesday night's discussions regarding positions in the DEI department. District staff said calling it a department was a "loose description," with the only two positions — the Assistant Superintendent and an Executive Assistant — not officially listed on the District's online Staff Directory.

Board of Education President Triston Ezidore was vehemently against any cutbacks to DEI at CCUSD schools. Just before the meeting's closed session on Tuesday, he held a rally titled "Don't Trump our DEI," a reference to President Donald Trump and his outspoken criticism of and actions against DEI programs.

Speakers at the rally noted the depth in which DEI programs support students. CEO and Founder of Special Needs Network Ava Martin spoke of her autistic son's experience and the help he received from the Los Angeles Unified School District and the importance of disability services, particularly in the wake of cuts to the United States Department of Education.

"These cuts will endanger every student in our public schools," Martin said, "and will make it more difficult for those students with [Individualized Education Programs] and with special needs to receive the education they are entitled to."

Several council members were also present at the rally, including Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, who spoke as Director of Education Equity at Children's Defense Fund at the rally.

"We must keep Culver City moving forward," McMorrin said, "and support the continuation of funding of the office of DEI for the wellbeing of our students and our community."

A budget presentation also given Tuesday noted that while the District is looking to cut positions to improve the budget's health, the goal is to avoid cuts in classrooms and mental health services. According to Ezidore, the two DEI positions cost CCUSD $350,000, less than 1% of the annual budget.

The intent of the discussion was murky, with Board Vice President Stephanie Loredo's first question on the item being on the exact topic and direction needed. Ezidore said that he believed that the purpose was to eliminate the Department entirely during his remarks at Tuesday's meeting.

"Some say this is a reclassification; some say this is a switch," Ezidore said at the meeting. "When we have an office with two positions, and we get rid of those positions, that is getting rid of the department."

He also argued that having a specialized DEI office and providing competitive salaries and benefits cannot be mutually exclusive.

Loredo mentioned that the Department was originally instituted because "there wasn't a solution" to eliminating equity gaps and creating a feeling of belonging for all district students. She argued that the values of the DEI Department should be echoed in how all school staff operate.

"I am going to challenge [us] to look at it as not just a single person," Loredo said of DEI, "Overall, what are we doing as a leadership team to further these goals?"

This was similar to the stances of the other board members. Board Member Lindsay Carlson emphasized the need to ensure that the District's hiring practices align with the DEI Department's values and wanted to leave the vision to staff. Board Member Andrew Lachman expressed his appreciation for looking at the larger overall picture.

"It is important that our practices within the district are sound with respect to DEI, justice, and belonging," Carlson said. "I look forward to seeing what you come back with."

While no decision was made at this meeting, staff noted that two resolutions that could result in reductions will be presented at the next meeting. According to the CCUSD Superintendent's Office, work on that agenda has not yet started.

The next CCUSD Board Meeting is scheduled for February 25.