In a move echoing federal efforts under President Donald Trump to strip inclusive language from government websites and institutions, the school board in Calvert County, Maryland, has rolled back multiple initiatives aimed at supporting minority students, The Baltimore Banner reports.
Calvert Cliffs (Jay/Flickr Creative Commons)The changes include removing “inclusive and supportive school community” from the district’s mission statement, eliminating antiracism language from the student handbook and website, banning “safe space” stickers, and adopting a flag policy that limits displays to government flags.
The all-white board, elected in 2022 and 2024 with backing from local Republican groups, took office in a county where 54% of voters supported Trump in November. Its actions resemble those in Somerset County, where the board quickly deleted immigration privacy guidance. Critics say both counties are part of a broader conservative push to reshape public schools in ways that downplay systemic racism and diversity initiatives.
Calvert’s antiracism policy was born in 2020 after a hate crime incident at Calvert High School, where the N-word was spray-painted on the football field. The policy acknowledged institutional racism, committed to reducing disproportionate discipline rates, and recognized the concept of white privilege. It faced a lawsuit from residents who claimed it pushed “radical” political views; a federal judge dismissed the case in 2022, saying the challenge was too flawed to proceed.
During the 2023-24 school year, Black students made up just 14% of Calvert’s enrollment but 30% of suspensions and expulsions, according to state data. Supporters of the antiracism policy say these disparities underscore the need for explicit protections, while opponents argue statewide antidiscrimination rules make a separate policy unnecessary.
The repeal came shortly after the departure of Calvert’s first Black superintendent, Andraé Townsel, who left a year before his term ended. His replacement, interim Superintendent Marcus Newsome, is also Black and has a long career in public education; however, some parents question whether his appointment is intended to deflect accusations of racial bias on the board. Newsome says his priority is to ensure that all students feel safe and supported.
At an August 7 meeting held in a former segregated high school for Black students, the board voted unanimously to repeal the antiracism policy. Vice President Lisa Grenis said racism remains unacceptable and that state policies cover the issue. Another member stated that the existing policy prioritized one type of discrimination over others.
The decision drew an hour of public comment after the vote, with most speakers urging the board to keep the policy. Many protesters — predominantly white — held signs reading “Stop pretending your racism is patriotism” and “Lead with equity and compassion.” Former board member Inez Capone called the repeal “a dangerous regression,” while NAACP president Deborah Harris said the policy had provided a vital framework for addressing incidents.
Only one speaker defended the removal, arguing that antiracism policies divide communities. Board member Paul Harrison told attendees that real change comes through elections, not protests. But critics see the rollback as part of a national trend that undermines minority students’ sense of belonging by mirroring Trump-like steps to erase diversity language from public institutions and send what they view as a stigmatizing message to students of color.
Editorial
Public Schools Should Not Erase Commitments to Antiracism
The Calvert County School Board’s repeal of its antiracism policy is more than a local policy shift; it’s a symbolic act with real consequences for students. By removing language that directly acknowledged institutional racism and committed to addressing it, the board sends a message that the problem is either too uncomfortable to discuss or not worth confronting at all.
We have seen this pattern before. Since January, the federal government, under President Trump, has systematically deleted diversity, equity, and inclusion language from museum exhibits, agency websites, and other public materials. The effect is not just rhetorical; it’s a public denial of systemic inequities, one that can make people in marginalized groups feel less seen, less safe, and less valued.
In Calvert County, the timing is telling. Black students represent just 14% of the district’s enrollment yet account for 30% of suspensions and expulsions. Without clear policies and training to address disparities like these, public schools risk perpetuating the same inequities they are supposed to counteract.
The board argues that statewide antidiscrimination rules are enough. But generic rules are not the same as a local commitment written into a district’s own mission. An explicit policy provides clarity, accountability, and reassurance, especially in communities where students have reported racial slurs, differential treatment, and missed opportunities.
Public schools serve every child, and they have an obligation to ensure that every child feels safe, supported, and respected. Repealing antiracism policies doesn’t make racism disappear; it makes it harder to talk about, harder to measure, and harder to fix.
In the end, this is not about politics. It’s about whether we believe all students deserve to walk into classrooms where their dignity is upheld, where their differences are respected, and where their opportunities are not defined by their race. Silence on these matters is not neutrality. It’s complicity.
