PASD Clarified Issues Around Critical Race Theory

This story was updated to include additional information.

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — The June 14 meeting of the Phoenixville Area School District Board of Directors included several run-of-the-mill contract extensions and other ordinary business, but PASD was one of many school districts to have public comments directed at Equity Initiatives.

On June 8, the Phoenixville Area School District posted astatement providing answers to common questions related to discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusions. "It is unfortunate that these discussions have become controversial," said the statement, signed by Superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley, the school board president and vice president, principals in the district, the social studies department chair, the district's director of curriculum, other board members and Education Association leaders.

The statement addressed what it said are false statements related to "Critical Race Theory" being taught in the district. "The district has not adopted Critical Race Theory as part of its curriculum," the letter said.

Among other statements the district deemed necessary to clarify was that "The district does not believe that all students and their parents/guardians are inherently racist."

To view a chart that lists PASD's full June 8 statement, go here.

Remarks criticizing Critical Race Theory were brought before the Tredyffin/Easttown School Board in a meeting the same night, in a packed in-person meeting. The commenters there appear to be part of a wider movement around Critical Race Theory aimed at school districts and curriculum.

Although PASD issued its statement on June 8, the School Board meeting on June 14 included two contentious comments in the period for public comment. While the meeting was open for in-person commenting, no one showed up in person. Rather, the comments received were read.

Michael Stevens asked the board, "What's an Equity Team? What do you mean by 'equity'? and What's an achievement gap?"

Ben Martin of East Pikeland insisted that "Critical Race Theory is based on the idea that our society is set up to benefit some." He told the PASD Board, "This harms children." He said CRT is a destructive ideology and unethical.

Martin pointed out to the board that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbade discrimination by the color of skin and said the use of the term "whiteness" is racist.

Phoenixville Area School District Board President Blake Emmanuel told the meeting attendees that Equity is part of the District's Strategic Plan.

Blake noted that "Critical Race Theory is not even a curriculum item" in the district.

PASD states that through its sustained initiatives "we work diligently in the pursuit of equity." Some of those initiatives include staffing; the district created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader position, a Student Academic and Resiliency Advisor position, a second Home and School Visitor/Social Worker position, a District Wellness position, and added two instructional coach positions.

PASD Board member Christopher Caltagirone said, in response to comments made, that nothing in the Strategic Plan speaks to Critical Race Theory. He warned against "capitulating to hysteria" and said that some comments come out of "a multitude of misinformation."

Caltagirone exhorted the board to address the matter of equity and race boldly and "not give in" to "hysteria" arising from sources that are getting their information from Wikipedia, which he called "frightening."

Also in the PASD meeting, Student Representatives Aubrey Wright and Scout Woronko asked the board to continue to make mental health resources available, and to "be pro-active, not reactive" in the face of a student mental health crisis made worse through the pandemic.

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