Would you keep schools’ DEI initiatives even if it may mean losing federal funding?

Leading up to the November 4 local election, the Newton Beacon asked candidates in competitive elections running for school committee:

Would you support keeping the schools’ DEI initiatives even if it may mean losing millions of dollars in federal funding?

Mali Brodt, School Committee Candidate, Ward 6: Yes. In today’s polarized national climate, it’s more important than ever to keep our local values strong and centered on what truly matters to our community. While national trends often push divisive rhetoric that overshadows constructive dialogue—we must focus on protecting our kids and fostering a safe, inclusive environment here at home. Newton is stronger because we embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which enriches our schools and community. Keeping these values at the forefront helps us resist harmful national pressures and instead build a supportive, respectful space where every student and family feels valued. By prioritizing local voices and commitments, we ensure our community thrives, grounded in kindness, respect, and shared purpose.

Christine Fisher, School Committee Candidate, Ward 2: Yes. I support initiatives that ensure all students feel welcome, included, and able to succeed, because belonging is directly tied to academic achievement. At the same time, I recognize that losing millions in federal funding would harm staffing, programs, and classroom resources, ultimately hurting students. I believe we can and must do both: maintain inclusive schools and protect critical funding. As a School Committee member, I would work with other districts and the State to oppose any federal actions that threaten funding for DEI efforts, while ensuring our local policies are both practical and sustainable.

Victor Lee, School Committee Candidate, Ward 8: No Position. This is too hypothetical right now and too broad a question for a topic where important nuances lie in the details. We would have to understand which specific DEI initiatives would be at risk and what the exact funding impact would be to make informed decisions. Generally, I believe that we need to ensure NPS offers spaces where all students can feel safe and that they belong, and we need to make sure that all students have opportunities to achieve their full potential. Those are the guiding principles that would inform my decision making. Regarding the loss of federal funding, most of our federal funding (~$3.5M) is related to IDEA, and even the Trump Administration has been wary of cutting that. Title I funding is a relatively small portion of the NPS budget and unlikely to be severely hit. The open challenge is understanding how state funding to NPS will be hit by federal funding changes. Those can be addressed in partnership with Governor Healey if/when the time comes.

Jenna Lauter Miara, School Committee Candidate, Ward 5: Yes. At a time when national politics are increasingly polarized and divisive, it’s more important than ever for communities like Newton to uphold and live our values. That includes support for inclusion, fairness, and full participation of all community members regardless of identity or background. And we can very likely find ways to do that without sacrificing funding. Running an organization that funds legal aid programs across Massachusetts, I work closely with nonprofits grappling with similar questions and I’ve spent considerable time analyzing Executive Orders and other federal policy pronouncements. I know that there are many effective initiatives that support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and that are well within the law. I can help NPS navigate the evolving landscape and make informed decisions to allow continued progress on these critical issues so Newton can be a model of a district where every student feels welcome and valued and has the opportunity to thrive.

Jim Murphy, School Committee Candidate, Ward 8: Yes. Let’s be clear: The Trump Administration fully intends to gut education, so it’s not like meeting any of his demands will prevent the loss of funding. Fortunately, Massachusetts is using Fair Share Amendment money to blunt the impact of those cuts, and to provide additional special education funding from which NPS will benefit. I worked to pass that initiative; my opponent did not. His concern with school funding is much more recent. It’s truly disheartening that “DEI” has become such a catch-all invective, but we should remain true to the most vulnerable in our schools. A fundamental mission of public education is to equip our youth to maintain the values of democratic self-rule, and that means embracing diversity in our classrooms, promoting equal opportunity for all, and making every parent’s child feel included and valued. Those are preconditions for learning; it’s also America at its best.

Arrianna Proia, School Committee Candidate, Ward 1: Yes. I support keeping Newton’s DEI initiatives even if it risks losing federal funding. We need to keep diversity, equity, and inclusion while also striving for excellence so that all students can thrive. That means ensuring the policies we adopt can be measured and are truly working. We should always do what is best for our children, not follow the political agendas of politicians. Newton schools should be inclusive, challenging, and a place where every student has the opportunity to succeed. That includes breaking down barriers, expanding access to advanced coursework, and addressing disparities, while making sure no student is capped in their potential. Abandoning equity would harm our students more than the loss of federal dollars. If federal dollars are withheld, we should work with the city, state, and community partners to secure resources and protect the progress we’ve made toward creating a truly inclusive school system.

Ben Schlesinger, School Committee Candidate, Ward 5: No Position. I truly hope we don’t wind up in this situation, but given the recklessness of the administration in Washington, we must be prepared. Losing millions of dollars would mean losing dozens of our talented educators. That is the simple reality of our budget. Putting kids first means we recognize the impact that loss would have on our kids, and we weigh it against the impact of making changes in our system. The details matter. If we can avoid losing so many educators by, for example, changing language on our website or job titles in the Ed Center, the students would be best served if we make those changes. But if the demand is to ban books or classroom programs that are core to our values and materially enhance our education, then the harm to our students would be too great. I know my instinct is to fight back, don’t appease, don’t surrender. But if optical or low-cost solutions save dozens of educator jobs, I know that our commitment to belonging will still shine through in our schools.

Linda Swain, School Committee Candidate, Ward 2: Yes. Every child matters—regardless of race, background, religion, income, or sexual orientation, etc. NPS must help every student reach their full potential, and hate has no place in our schools. In 2024 alone, there were 74 hate incidents within the City of Newton, most of which were antisemitic. Every student deserves to feel safe and supported, and it is our responsibility as School Committee members to ensure our nondiscrimination policies are upheld. I define educational excellence as enabling every student to thrive—whether they need extra support, greater challenge, or something in between. True excellence is impossible without equity and inclusion. With less than 10% of the NPS budget funded federally, the financial risk of maintaining DEI initiatives is manageable—and essential.