Overview: During a recent Rochester Community School Board meeting, the decision to eliminate the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) position emerged as a point of discussion, sparking community concern and debate among board members. The removal of the DEI role was explained as a precautionary measure to comply with federal directives and avoid risking approximately $10 million in federal funding. Superintendent Nicholas Russo articulated that the decision was driven by the U.S. Department of Education’s requests for compliance certifications, amid ongoing lawsuits related to these matters. However, this strategic move has led to . . .