Rutherford County School Board reverses decision, opts not to oppose current DEI policies

Written by Ben Tilbury

Officials for Rutherford County Schools voted 4-3 not to eliminate DEI in a surprising

reversal of their earlier decision.

Board of Education member Caleb Tidwell called for the vote claiming to oppose a

policy that makes race a factor in the hiring process; while stating he believes these

positions should be filled based off of merit.

Initially the board voted to approve Tidwell’s resolution in a 4-3 vote but received instant

criticism from audience members. 

Tidwell’s efforts were initially backed by fellow board members Tammy Sharp, Katie

Darby and the board’s vice chairwoman Frances Rosales, who later reversed course

and called for a second vote to join the opposition.

Rosales joined Stan Vaught, Butch Vaughn, and chairwoman Claire Maxwell as the four

members of the all republican school board to strike down the resolution.

Members of the board who opposed the resolution like Vaught and Maxwell believe it

sends the wrong message, while pointing out the high levels of diversity in their schools

and community.

DEI is not a burden to the county, but rather a distraction meant for political purposes, according to Maxwell, while Vaught questioned if this was an attempt for Tidwell to make a bid for state representative.

Tidwell pushed back against these claims, claiming that DEI is inherently political, and

making light of it is not bringing politics into education.

Maxwell, who has a background in special education, says she has been receiving calls

and emails from parents of students in special education programs who are concerned

with the resolution.

Members of the board who supported the resolution like Katie Darby emphasized the

idea of merit-based decision making, with a focus on qualifications rather than skin

color, religion, sexual orientation or gender.

Rosales ultimately changed her vote after expressing the opinion that partisan politics

would interfere with the education of students.