HELP SUPPORT INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM BY BECOMING A SUBSCRIBING MEMBER. YOU CAN ALSO MAKE A ONE TIME DONATION HERE.
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — Drafts for the 2024-2025 student handbooks at the Penn Harris Madison School Corporation show the school district has removed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from the academics portion of the guidelines. The corporation presented the handbook drafts at its school board meeting earlier this week. Everything highlighted in the pages is considered an addition to the handbook, while everything crossed out in red is being removed. DEI has been crossed out in all three PHM handbooks (Elementary, Middle and High schools).
The DEI section of the handbook was always out-of-place and nonsensical. While everything else listed in the “Academics” section describes academic processes, rules and procedures, DEI does not describe in what way DEI will be used in the student population, how it will be used, or when it will be used.
“Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is a process that creates a meaningful systemic change towards a more equitable learning environment. Valuing and celebrating diversity and embracing each other’s uniqueness is at the heart of DEI. A diversity of perspectives produces a more energized and dynamic academic experience and fosters a psychologically safe environment to create a sense of belonging for all. DEI enhances the opportunity to reach out education’s overarching goal: improving student learning and outcomes. Central to DEI, is ensuring everyone has the fully opportunity to thrive in a learning environment.”
The removal of the DEI section of the handbook comes just weeks after the school district’s DEI Officer, Derrick White, was moved to head up the district’s alternative school program known as PennWay. The previous head of PennWay was recently made the Interim Director of Human Resources following a vacancy in that position. According to sources within the school district, White, who has previous experience with a challenging student population as the Vice Principal at Riley High School in South Bend, was the obvious choice to take over PennWay — an administrative position that is much more vital that DEI.
While some have claimed the DEI position has been eliminated, according to high-ranking sources in the district, despite the changes in the handbook, there has been no decision to eliminate the DEI Officer role. Sources tell RNM the position is simply vacant right now. However, there are no plans to “immediately” fill it. A move to eliminate the DEI position has to be proposed, voted on and approved by the school board. Remember, several current members of the board created this position in September of 2020 to immense fanfare from the media and left-wing activists.
(***EDITORIAL NOTE*** RNM strongly encourages PHM to eliminate the DEI position. While removing DEI from the student handbooks was a move in the right direction, all DEI initiatives, including the DEI Officer position, should be eliminated entirely.)
Want to keep seeing the news the legacy media just won’t report? REAL News Michiana relies on member subscribers to keep going. As a subscriber, you’ll get an RNM mug and invites to special events. Help us continue to expose corruption and report on the news conservatives care about by subscribing here.
