Controversial decision as NHCS Board of Education dissolves Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Board of Education voted 4-2 in favor of dissolving the school district’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee.

The vote was held on Tuesday, December 5th, and was not well-received by the community.

The motion to dissolve the committee came from school board member Melissa Mason, who was also the committee’s chairman.

Mason said it was not worth keeping around as some other committees and groups provided ways to ensure everyone had a voice.

But board member Stephanie Kraybill disagreed.

She said without the committee being in place, there isn’t a way the Board can ensure all its students are protected.

“Our mission statement says that we will offer students a safe and protected learning environment and give them what they need to succeed. And by not focusing on equity, then I don’t know what we’re gonna do.”

Community members spoke about the vote during Tuesday’s school board meeting.

One speaker said the committee did have a place since all of the issues affecting students throughout the county had not been addressed.

“Getting rid of this committee would assume that New Hanover County schools has completely addressed the racial and economic disparities that exist within and between schools and they have not,” the speaker said.