(KNSI) – The Sartell-St. Stephen School Board is holding a special meeting where the district’s administrator will make a recommendation about the future of the school’s equity work.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Ridlehoover’s report and recommendation is the only item on Monday’s agenda. The meeting is at 5 p.m. at Sartell-St. Stephen High School in the Watab room.
Submitted Photo
The school district hired Equity Alliance Minnesota to conduct an equity audit. The audit included surveys for students, staff, and the community. The results came back in June, and the 72-page report recommended multiple changes including changes to the curriculum to empower students to see the world from a broad range of various perspectives.
Concerned parents say the changes amount to critical race theory. Parents say they weren’t shown the survey questions ahead of time, which could be a possible violation of district policy. Parents say students were told not to discuss the survey questions at home. District 748 says it would never impose a policy that prohibits students from talking to their parents or guardians about any part of their learning, including the equity survey.
A group that formed after the audit, Concerned Parents and Community of ISD 748, is asking for the resignation of School Board Chairman Jeremy Snoberger and Vice Chairman Jason Nies. The group says they were the driving force behind Equity Alliance Minnesota getting involved with the district.
Last week, Congressman Tom Emmer wrote a letter asking the U.S. Treasury Secretary to look into the district using $80,000 in COVID Relief funds to pay for the audit. Emmer says he’s concerned utilizing the money in that way “appears to be beyond the scope and appropriateness for which the relief was initially intended.”
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!