Senator Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) chairs the Senate Committee on Education, which is sponsoring SB 732 that requires school districts to establish an educational equity advisory committee.

The legislative session has been jam-packed with “equity” bills, but SB 732 is no ordinary handout to the underserved. The bill starts with a disclaimer, “Nothing in this section shall interfere with the duties, responsibilities and rights of duly elected school district boards.” But, then it goes on to establish at each school district an educational equity advisory committee that effectively serves as an unelected school board member with veto power.

The Equity Advisory Committee would advise the school district board and superintendent:

• On the educational equity impacts of policy decisions;
• Inform when a situation arises in a school of the school district that negatively impacts underrepresented students and advise on how best to handle that situation;
• Create and revise the school district’s continuous improvement plan under ORS 329.095
• Participate in the creation and approval of the district budget under ORS 328.452

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Schools that have experienced equity teams report that they have caused students and families to leave public schools because they do not agree with their agenda. Equity teams have also caused some strife among staff members. With the addition of this type of political speech, it could further cause declines in enrollment causing families to homeschool or move to private schools.

The committee creates a shadow board that isn’t accountable to parents or the school district. It reports to the legislature taking jurisdiction from the district school boards.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2021-03-08 07:21:00

Last Update: 2021-03-09 20:32:03