THE COST OF "DIVERSITY:" TAX DOLLARS AND MATERIALS INAPPROPRIATE FOR SCHOOL?

Diversity is a word Rockwood uses along with the words "equity" and "inclusion," also known as DEI.

DEI is a big deal in the district, with an entire department devoted to it. 
It's called: "Educational Equity and Diversity."

It would be difficult to put a true price tag on what Rockwood has spent toward "diversity," but, the salary of the director of that department is referenced online as $107,131.00

An emphasis on diversity, in general, has been in Rockwood for years. The position that coordinated diversity efforts expanded into a "director" position in 2020. (See more below.)

That's also when the district injected diversity/equity into class assignments, lesson materials and books. The actual lessons were written by a team of 250 Rockwood teachers in the summer of 2020, for the classes starting that fall, which were virtual.

It did not go well, according to parents. Hear from them about their experiences, here.

"Diverse perspectives" are what Rockwood administrators have said they're providing with books and lesson materials like you see on the chart below.

Brittany Hogan initially held the Educational Equity and Diversity director position. (Hogan has since been replaced by Dr. Aisha Grace.) 

Here's what Hogan said about the push for DEI in an interview: 

“My goal is that equity and diversity inclusion is embedded in our curriculum and is in our discipline practices, how we treat each other as staff members, and also how we interact with students and how students treat each other,” Hogan said. “And ensuring that students see reflections of themselves in their educational spaces.” 

Here's where you can find out more about the lesson materials and books referenced in the chart above:

"JJ is Neither A Boy Nor A Girl" is an excerpt from a book that is in 16 of our elementary school libraries, so students that don't identify as their birth gender can see themselves in books.

"power systems like racism, survival lesson with police",  F*ck the police" are in class assignments and/or reading material that Rockwood administrators say are meant to provide diverse perspectives.

"Gender Queer" is written by a non-binary author, which means the book provides a "diverse" perspective.