The Somerset School Board in Wisconsin voted 5-2 Monday night to retain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) language in its strategic plan, despite opposition from board members who questioned its necessity and alignment with President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
The debate centered on language in the district’s strategic plan, which calls for promoting a “culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all students” and supporting their “social-emotional learning.”
Some board members expressed concern that the terms “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” have taken on a new and politically-charged meaning at the national level.
“I’m just wondering if all the educators are realizing how much these words have been hijacked in the last 10, 15 years,” one board member said. “It is now representing something completely different to people. Are we aware of that?”
Pushback on DEI
Opponents of DEI questioned its effectiveness in improving student outcomes and argued that keeping it in the district’s guiding plan ignores the will of the voters.
“The voters spoke loud and clear—over 60% of the district voters voted against DEI, yet here we are justifying it like it’s okay,” one board member said.
Another board member questioned why DEI language needs to remain if, like some proponents claimed, the district is essentially doing what it’s always done.
“If it’s all there anyway, and it’s always been, why do we need these exact words in the order that they are?” the board member asked.
Some also raised concerns about compliance with federal law, citing Trump’s executive orders aimed at curbing the use of DEI initiatives.
“We have an executive order that happened back in January, and here we are almost two months later, still talking about it like it’s legitimate,” one opponent argued.
Somerset School Board member Dani Erickson, who voted against keeping the DEI language, told Alpha News she was frustrated that the board did not take steps to remove the terms from the district’s plan.
“I was hoping to unite our school district students, staff, and families by removing words that have become loaded with controversial meaning,” Erickson said. “The words Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging represent and leave the door open to divisive ideology. I am disappointed the board chose to cling to these words, but looking forward to collaborating with my fellow board members on more issues going forward.”
In July 2024, Erickson spoke to Alpha News about pushing back against proposed Title IX rule changes.
Board defends DEI, rejects calls for removal
Board members who supported keeping DEI language insisted that Somerset’s approach was not the same as what they acknowledged was a “negative” national DEI agenda.
“I believe that the people in this community are smart enough to separate the negative stigma from DEI at the national level,” one board member said.
Others insisted DEI principles were necessary for student’s well-being and had always been part of education under different names.
“Everything we do in Somerset schools concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion and social-emotional learning is for the benefit of our children,” a board member said. “It’s to help them learn, it’s to help them be good people [who] have empathy for their classmates, and to help them grow into adults who contribute to society.”
Still others argued that the district’s practices are already in compliance with Trump’s executive orders, noting that the district does not use DEI in its hiring practices or discriminate based on race or sex.
In the end, the board voted 5-2 to leave the DEI language unchanged.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
