The head of the Bangor School Department’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts isn’t concerned about what the Trump administration’s threats to cut such policies across the country could mean for local schools — and is instead doubling down on the program’s importance.
In the days after President Donald Trump announced his intention to end “radical and wasteful” DEI programs from the federal government, Bangor School Department leadership didn’t know whether it would need to cut its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Advisory Committee.
But on Jan. 31, the Bangor School Committee and the department’s DEIB Advisory Committee issued a statement outlining how the department will continue to uphold its efforts despite the president’s orders.
“The Bangor School Department complies with the Maine Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of protected class in employment, housing, places of public accommodation, education, and extension of credit,” the school department’s statement said. “While federal policies may change, Maine state law continues to uphold strong protections against discrimination in schools, and we remain fully committed to these legal standards.”
The department’s decision to uphold its DEI policies and efforts comes in the wake of the president singling out Maine for continuing to adhere to state policies, specifically for allowing transgender girls to compete on girls school sports teams. Those acts include launching a Title IX investigation and attempting to freeze federal funding to the University of Maine.
“While issues surrounding [DEI] are politicized, there’s nothing inherently political about human beings,” Dana Carver-Bialer, the Bangor School Department’s civil rights director, said. “It’s about creating an environment where people are all safe, respected and seen as their authentic selves. There’s nothing political about creating a place where students and staff can thrive.”
The goal of Bangor schools’ DEIB efforts is to make all students and staff feel welcome, safe and accepted when they come to school each day, regardless of their race, sex, religion, age, sexuality, gender identity or expression, disability status or socioeconomic status, Carver-Bialer said.
“We know that when those supports are stronger and students are connected to their community, academic excellence flourishes,” Carver-Bialer said.
The school department’s ongoing DEIB efforts began after the Bangor Daily News detailed reports of racism at Bangor High School in 2020. Accounts of white students calling classmates the N-word and defending slavery and white supremacy in class discussions were affirmed by an independent investigation later that year.
Since then, the school departments’ DEIB advisory committee has played a role in providing professional development for teachers, updating school policies and hiring school staff that reflect the surrounding community, Carver-Bialer said.
The DEIB Advisory Committee was also involved in recent technology advancements on the department’s website that ensures announcements, such as snow day notices, are delivered to families in whatever language they speak at home, said Ray Phinney, a spokesperson for the department.
There is no line item for DEIB efforts in the Bangor School Department annual budget, according to Phinney.
Leaders within the Bangor School Department published the statement in the hopes of reassuring students and families that nothing within their schools will change, despite recent acts by the administration to target organizations, including schools, that have DEI policies.
“The unknown is scary,” Katie Brydon, a Bangor School Committee member who sits on the school department’s DEIB advisory committee, said. “Regardless of what population you identify with, that fear is real for a lot of people. Being able to say publicly that we as a school department are committed to making sure that every student feels welcome is valuable and important.”
In the weeks following Trump’s orders to end DEI programs nationwide, several companies and universities, including the University of Virginia, have quietly rolled back their diversity initiatives and closed DEI offices, the Washington Post reported.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education announced it’s investigating more than 50 universities in 41 states alleging the schools use “racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities,” according to the announcement, issued on March 14.
The investigations came after the education department sent a letter to universities on Feb. 14 ordering them to end “discriminatory” DEI programs.
The mission of DEIB also strives to help students think critically about the world around them, be understanding and compassionate, and work effectively with people who are different from them, Carver-Bialer said.
“Wouldn’t the world be a better place if people could navigate differences, come to a consensus and make tough decisions with people that are different from them?” she said.
