Lexington school leaders are reaffirming their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion after the White House issued an executive order that attempts to eliminate DEI efforts from public education.
On Jan. 29, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schools,” calling for a shift toward “patriotic education” and condemning “anti-American ideologies” in schools.
The order has reignited debates on concepts such as critical race theory and gender identity, which it labels as “radical ideologies” that weaken family authority and national unity. It further emphasizes expanding parental control over educational content.
Schools receiving federal funding for K-12 education must follow all laws that “prohibit discrimination in various contexts and protect parental rights,” the order states.
The executive order has sparked concerns about support for marginalized groups, particularly LGBTQIA+ students and educators.
In response, Lexington Public Schools issued a letter Feb. 4, reaffirming its commitment to DEI. Signed by Superintendent Julie L. Hackett and all five members of the Lexington School Committee, the letter expresses concern about the executive order’s potential impact on vulnerable communities while underscoring the district’s dedication to providing a safe, supportive environment for all students.
“Doing the right thing requires daily practice,” the letter reads. “We believe it is our obligation to serve and care for others in our community and stand up for just causes, even when it might be difficult to do so.”
Lexington has consistently prioritized creating a school culture where students, regardless of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or background, feel supported.
About 77 percent of Lexington voters supported Democrat Kamala Harris in November; only 18 percent voted for Republican Trump.
The school district has long been at the forefront of DEI efforts, launching several initiatives since 2018. These include installing all-gender restrooms in all schools, adopting inclusive classroom materials for LGBTQIA+ communities, integrating diverse cultural content in classrooms, and hosting forums on racial justice.
Trump’s order states that schools have been blocking parental oversight and that students are being forced to accept certain ideologies without question or critical examination.
It also states that such learning environments encourage young people to question their own identities and whether they were born in the wrong body, often leading them to view their parents and the world around them as “enemies to be blamed.”
On the same day the order was announced, nearly 100 Lexington students and staff participated in a professional learning experience aimed at creating a secondary DEI curriculum.
“For those who are feeling frightened and scared right now, please know that we stand with you,” Lexington Public Schools’ letter reads. “In Lexington, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts have been the cornerstone of our LPS strategic plan and vision.”
In addition to the school district’s response, community members have taken steps to push for sustained DEI efforts at the municipal level.
Lexington’s chief equity officer position has been vacant since the resignation of the previous holder, raising concerns among many about the town’s commitment to DEI. Steve Bartha, the town manager, addressed these concerns in an email to all employees on Feb. 5, providing updates on the town’s ongoing DEI initiatives and future plans.
In his email, Bartha explained the process of reevaluating the DEI role and explained that, rather than re-advertising the same job description for the third time in roughly three years, he wanted to take some time to better understand the community’s expectations and desired outcomes for both the organization and the town.
Bartha emphasized that the town’s DEI work would continue, emphasizing that he is open to feedback from the employees regarding shaping the next steps.
Meanwhile, local advocacy groups are asking for updates on the DEI position. On Jan. 24, 10 facilitators from the Dismantling Racism in Our Town (DRIOT) program sent a letter to Bartha and the Select Board, urging them to prioritize filling the vacant chief equity officer position and to elevate it to a senior-level role within the town’s structure.
“We are asking for transparency about the status of the position,” said Lisa Goodman, a DRIOT facilitator.
According to Goodman, the job opening for chief equity officer has not yet been posted, and the group has not received any communication from Bartha or the Select Board regarding the matter.
“[The lack of communication] is a concern for us,” Goodman said.
Updated 2/16/2025 to include comments from Town Manager Steve Bartha.
This story is part of a partnership between the Lexington Observer and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
As I was walking out of the League of Women Voters candidates forum last night I had a casual conversation with a parent we know from when our kids were at Bowman. I suggested that, given what’s going on nationally, including Trump’s executive order, it might be prudent for Lexington to come up with alternate wording to diversity, equity and inclusion, to protect the underlying programs and policies. After I read this article, the letter signed by the members of the School Committee and Dr. Hackett, and the press release from Attorney General Campbell, I realized that using alternate wording for diversity, equity, and inclusion would be caving in to the ignorance, bigotry, fear mongering, and demagoguery that has been on the rise in our country in recent months. I applaud the School Committee and Dr. Hackett for taking this stand that makes it crystal clear where we stand and what Lexington’s values are.
We should stop using the acronym DEI and say “diversity, equity and inclusion” instead. When I do so, people get more thoughtful with their arguments.
Let us applaud and thank our school Superitendant Julie Hackett and School Comittee members to send comments as they felt most appropriate for Lexington students and values and culture of this town
“Doing the right thing requires daily practice,” the letter reads. “We believe it is our obligation to serve and care for others in our community and stand up for just causes, even when it might be difficult to do so.”
Perhaps this gives opportunity to further look at our policy and see if there areas of concerns by citizens like school curriculum etc and we can look into and continue the mission of providing any and all modalities of education for students who knock on the door of this temple of learning – schools – thanks
Dinesh Patel
Precinct 6 tm
Thank you
Dinesh
Precinct 6 tm
Going back to the mid 1980s, Lexington’s percentage of children enrolled in our public schools has varied from about 87% to about 92%. Our current percentage of 87% is inline with these historic trends. When we compare Lexington to other communities like Brookline, Concord, Newton, and Wellesley, we see that they all have a higher percentage of children in private schools than Lexington. These are all communities known for their high performing school districts.
As to why parents choose to send their children to private schools, I’m sure the reasons vary from family to family. But with tuitions at most non-religious schools starting at about $40,000 per year those schools have resources not available to public schools. That could certainly be part of the attraction.
For more information, please see this letter sent out today by Dr. Hackett on ParentSquare: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/46839121?s=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoyMTAyNzUzNywiZXhwIjoxNzQ3NDg4MzYyLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5wYXJlbnRzcXVhcmUuY29tL2ZlZWRzLzQ2ODM5MTIxIiwibWV0aG9kIjoiR0VUIiwicXVlcnkiOnt9LCJyZXF1ZXN0Ijp7fX0.o9V-LNkt6tRpObd6Wx3wrV00wjsfVbk5Je_mbWL_wpM