NHCS Policy Committee moves DEI eliminations forward, discusses rolling back protections

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — New Hanover County Board of Education’s Policy Committee met Tuesday to discuss language changes in district policy. 

The committee approved removing the terms “diversity” and “equity” from some district policies but postponed discussions on two key issues.  

First, they delayed reviewing the school board’s recent decision to combine the districts two sex education programs into one, called Family Life Education.  

This new combined program—which parents can opt into—focuses on abstinence and excludes discussions of gender roles, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 

The committee also tabled removing “gender” and “gender identity” from the district’s anti-bullying policy, which could have eliminated protections for transgender students. 

Republican Board Member David Perry said the district must align its policies with the Trump Administration to avoid losing federal funds, while Democratic Board Member Judy justice said the administration has no authority to withhold funds from the district. 

“I think that it’s important for us not to lose the federal money and have to fire a bunch of teachers because we didn’t comply with this,” Perry said. 

“The constitution states that the only funding comes from the legislative branch. Trump is the head of the executive branch. He has no right to hold funding back from anything,” Justice countered. 

The committee also tabled removing Federal Title IX protections based on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” 

Perry suggested changing the term “sex” to “biological sex” in district policies. 

“I mean probably 50 years ago, gender and biological sex meant the same thing—it just means sex—but now there’s 1000 definitions of what that means, and I think we need to be clear,” Perry explained. 

Though, board attorney Norwood Blanchard said including the term “biological” could come in conflict with Title IX.

“Title IX is not entitled ‘nondiscrimination on the basis of biological sex,’ it’s just ‘sex,’” Norwood noted. 

Justice warned that rolling back protections in the name of compliance could lead to the bullying and discrimination of students. 

“What are we doing here? I mean seriously,” Justice asked the committee. “I have stressed over and over again how much harm has already been done to some of these members of our society over the years and we’re getting ‘better?’ Why are we going backwards?” 

The entire board will vote on the approved policy changes at their next meeting on March 25.