Hartland Consolidated Schools establishes equity committee; Board of Education votes to establish additional equity subcommittee

On March 31, 2021, the superintendent of Hartland Consolidated Schools reportedly wrote a letter announcing that the school district would establish a “diversity, equity, and inclusion committee made up of staff and district representatives,” according to the Livingston Daily. The news outlet continued to report that “the committee’s first meeting will be on April 30, and will include a four-hour implicit bias training with Alfredo Hernandez, racial equity officer for the Michigan Department of the Office of Civil Rights.”

The school district’s Board of Education also reportedly voted 4-3 to create a subcommittee dedicated to “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Board Treasurer Bill Gatewood then posted an article on Facebook titled “Why a Diversity Committee of the Board Is a Must for All Schools,” according to WHMI 93.5 Local News.

In June 2021, WHMI 93.5 Local News reported that concerned community members spoke at a board meeting about their concerns of the school district implementing racial equity and “LGBTQ+” issues into the school curriculum. The school district’s website has a “Harassment and Non-Discrimination” page that specifically mentions “transgender identity.” The school district’s website also has a “Board of Education” page that mentions “transgender identity.”

In 2016, Livingston Daily reported the superintendent of the school district discussing how the issue of students identifying as transgender using the bathrooms opposite of their biological sex “has been prominent in the district.” Then-Superintendent Janet Sifferman reportedly explained: “We handle several types of situations on a case-by-case basis, not just this, such as bullying, special-education cases and many others.” She also stated that the school district tries to “offer the best resources and support.”