Outcry Against School Equity Policies At Pennsbury Board Meeting

YARDLEY, PA — Concerns around “critical race theory” in public schools dominated the Pennsbury School Board meeting on Thursday night. A cohort of parents expressed their dissatisfaction with the district’s recent Equity Vision Statement and Equity Audit Report, calling "equity" a misguided lens and dominating the 90 minutes of public comment.

The concept of critical race theory has been invoked frequently throughout the country in recent months, as legislatures in several states have introduced bills that would limit and censor curricular discussions of race and history in public schools. Critical race theory, however, is a systemic framework for studying law and policy around race, that does not refer to K-12 public school curricula.

The board had adopted a new policy on Educational Equity in May, following an equity audit process that began in August and resulted in the district's Education Equity Audit Report.

No explicit curricular changes have currently been proposed or implemented. Any curricular changes in the district go through a "transparent" and "public" process of approval during which an array of opinions and voices are heard, Superintendent William J. Gretzula emphasized in response to Thursday night's comments.

The new policy primarily reflects the district's stated commitment to identifying and addressing barriers to student achievement and belonging, ensuring that explicit and implicit biases do not impact student success, and acknowledging that unequal learning needs among students require equitable responses from the district.

The policy's largest substantive changes include the implementation of an Educational Equity Audit at least every three years, and of an Educational Equity Plan on the same timeline. The audit will aggregate data around achievement, experiences, and leadership in the district; the plan will create clear goals for the district based on this data.

While many parents spoke of their appreciation for the district's “diversity” at Thursday's meeting, Pennsbury's use of the word “equity” in framing its policies proved a sticking point.

The Pennsbury student body is 73.5 percent white and 24 percent "economically disadvantaged." The term "equity," as defined in the audit report's introduction, prioritizes giving every student the tools to succeed across their individual needs and experiences.

“Equality is providing the same, one-size-fits-all approach to all students, despite their unique needs. Educational equity is not a one-size-fits-all approach; equity is acknowledging that one-size-fits-few and meeting student needs with responsive strategies, structures and supports,” the audit report states.

Several commenters noted “color-blind” attitudes among their children, expressing worry that approaching student needs with the adaptable model that the audit report proposes would divide students.

“This education program that’s being implemented is designed to put people in a box,” Candace Cabanas, a parent of children in the district, said.

A District Equity Leadership Team of 28 district employees, students, parents/guardians, and community members worked together this year to guide the district's equity audit. The resulting report was authored by Dr. Cherrissa Gibson, the district’s director of equity, diversity, and education appointed last July.

The report's strategic goals for the district moving forward focus on several key areas, named as: institutional practices; high-quality and culturally relevant instruction; inclusive school climate; learning culture and professional development; data-focused, multi-tiered systems of support; and workforce diversity.

On Thursday night, community member Allyn Barth addressed board member T.R. Kannan directly. Last year, when he was president of the board, Kannan wrote to the district referencing racial microaggressions he’d experienced and witnessed in the community.

“Most minorities stay silent and accept this as a way of life,” he wrote last June. In the same letter, he spoke about the hope he felt in watching conversations around racial justice gain momentum.

Referencing this letter, Barth insinuated that Kannan had only experienced discrimination in India — where he migrated from more than 20 years ago — saying: “Mr. Kannan, you live in America now.”

She then specifically targeted Gibson with her comments, questioning the director's practices and the need for her position.

“The policy of the Pennsbury School Board is that public comments cannot be personally directed,” one board member interrupted her to say. “You are beginning to personally direct your comments at Dr. Gibson. If you continue, your comments will be cut off and you’ll be asked to take your seat.”

At the meeting’s end, the board took time to discuss the comments offered. This was Gretzula’s final board meeting as superintendent before his retirement.

He acknowledged his respect for community members’ comments and concerns, and gave this response:

Our community has tried to label our curriculum work as “indoctrination through CRT: critical race theory.” We have always said this is about kids seeing themselves represented in the curriculum. Not dividing kids, not putting them in a box or separating them.

The language I hear tonight is not the language we’ve spoken. It’s the language people have chosen to label our work. We want our children to feel represented in our curriculum decisions — see themselves in the characters, in the settings, in the histories. Learning multiple histories doesn’t mean learning multiple histories at the expense of another. And that’s the mischaracterization that I see here tonight that I take exception to.

We’re not saying people have to feel badly because we’re exposing children to multiple histories. … Let’s celebrate the diversity of every child — every family — the same. That’s what equity will look like.

Gretzula received a standing ovation from board members for his five years working with the district.

“It’s been an honor serving the Pennsbury School District under your leadership, and I wish you the best," Board President Christine Toy-Dragoni said.

Also at Thursday night's meeting, the board approved the final budget for 2021-2022 in a 7-1 vote.

Those wishing to view the meeting in full can do so on YouTube, or read the board meeting minutes when they become available. The next school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 19. Board members said that a July meeting is possible, although currently not scheduled.