Federal pressure mounts in public education, raises questions in school district

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - The elimination of an executive Charleston County School District leadership role leaves community members in limbo as federal pressure builds over the dismantling and re-establishment of the public education framework.

“Upsetting, frustrating, disappointing” are the words used by more than a dozen people who stood in front of the district’s staff and Board of Trustees on Monday in response to the change. At least half the room was doused in different shades of green, a silent action of solidarity to a former executive director for the removed Intercultural Affairs department.

Academic Magnet High School student Zuriel spoke in previous board meetings about his concerns for the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion within schools.

“When I look at the news and see they’ve done the exact opposite of what I addressed, it makes me feel extremely disappointed, not only as a student. It makes me feel like my voice is not being heard,” Zuriel said.

Former Board of Trustees member and concerned parent Courtney Waters described the decision as rushed.

“This district had an intention to make the move they made. They did not have to make that move because we are still examining, and our legal is still examining whether these orders have teeth,” Waters said.

Superintendent Anita Huggins followed the public comment with a response to the 12 speakers.

“These are unprecedented times, as Mrs. Waters said. All day, every day, I, as a leader of this district, along with the cabinet members that sit alongside me, will make decisions in the best interest of children. To be very specific, we received extensive legal counsel and consultation with other district leaders and leaders across the state, regarding executive orders and the Dear Colleague letter, which was very specific. Not only in expectations for public entities receiving federal funds but what could happen when districts and or other entities receiving federal funds were not in compliance with executive orders. Such was evident here in Charleston, and in other places in the state of South Carolina,” Huggins said.

“The decision was made in extensive consultation with legal counsel to eliminate various things within the Charleston County School District, to put on pause other things and to eliminate the Office of Intercultural Development. To be very honest, the district receives $55 million in funds, that primarily support Black and brown children. Not for one second would I risk nearly 6% of the budget. I don’t think that’s what the staff member who is in that position would have expected to do, knowing her heart and her work in this district. She was also offered any position on two extensive lists of vacancies provided to her, and when she did not consider them viable, we worked with her to make sure she and her family were covered,” Huggins said.

“Personnel matters were not engaged, here publicly or with the public. Policy does not allow for such, in the interest of privacy for individuals we hire and serve, we do not discuss personnel matters in public. I am committed to serving the children of this district and the $55 million that goes primarily to Title I,” Huggins said. “There were some comments about the repurposing or renaming of the division. Let me be very specific about Executive Order 14151 and the subsequent Dear Colleague letter, which states and calls into question any position, committee, program, service, activity, budget or expenditure is prohibited that in essence it is relabeled to preserve any prior function.”

The district confirmed the removal of the executive director for the Intercultural Organizational Development role on March 17, meaning the community stance falls exactly a week following the decision. The district claims it chose to eliminate the role in response to executive orders from the White House, signed on March 20.

The district receives around $55 million in federal funding, which goes to supporting several vital education programs. Monetary amounts provided by the district from Fiscal Year 2025 show $12,341,949 for Title I, $447,726 for Title III and $9,739,285 in IDEA, or special education, as an example.

The district reported 285 positions impacted by federal funding. Those roles include various teacher positions, guidance counselors, therapists and similar connective placements to children. It also includes indirect roles, for example, technicians, programs officers and coordinators.

At least 41 of those positions fall within the category of special education resources.

A quick web search lacks a multitude of results, but a form labeled by the district’s Human Resources sector, still on public record as of Monday night, shares a detailed job description for the now-nixed role.

The document, dated last September 2020, wrote a director would be responsible for “a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the Charleston County School District community. This includes providing insight concerning the overall district climate (with specific emphasis on the student and family experiences) and advice regarding the potential implications for these groups as it relates to the District’s mission and institutional policies and practices.”

The document reads:

“The Executive Director Intercultural Organizational Development should value diversity and be able to work with diverse groups of people equitably; support equal and fair treatment and opportunity for all; foster a climate of inclusion, where diverse thoughts are freely shared and integrated.”

Anyone applying for the role of executive director for Intercultural Organizational Development was required to hold a Master’s Degree in Public Policy, Social Sciences, Multicultural Education, Education Administration or a related field. The job also required a minimum of three to five years of “successful experience” in an education leadership role, according to the application document.

Orders most recently published by the Trump administration wrote the intention to “close the Department of Education and return education authority to the states,” and “direct programs and activities receiving any remaining funds will not advance DEI or gender ideology.”