HARDWICK – In his last newsletter of the school year, Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) Superintendent Dr. David Baker wrote, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are under strong attack right now. Earlier this spring, the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to state officials stating that Title I funding, which is targeted to schools with a high proportion of low-income students, would be threatened if schools failed to follow its interpretation of civil rights laws, including diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
I recently read a letter from a superintendent who countered this demand far better than I could ever say it. I encourage you to read this superintendent’s response. [See sidebar.]
OSSU stays strong in our protection of the historically marginalized and the most vulnerable of our population. We will remain vigilant and ensure that all our students have access to the opportunities that they deserve. If life is a race to the finish, we do not all start at the same starting line. We live in a state where I think our AOE and the attorney general will fight the good fight. Vermont is part of several lawsuits that challenge the federal assault on our DEI and equity programs. With or without the state we will stay strong in our efforts until the words tell me differently. This may be the most important crossroad that we have faced in our history. We carry on.
Dr. David Baker
Dr. David Baker is the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union Superintendent
