The Hamilton County Board of Education debated a potentially “racist” policy at its board meeting earlier this week.
The proposal would put a focus on hiring teaching staff that is more diverse than the county’s overwhelmingly White workforce.
However, District 8 board member Larry Grohn (R-East Ridge) believes the district should avoid any language that would make it seem that hiring minorities was more desirable than simply hiring qualified candidates, no matter their race.
Superintendent Justin Robertson believes the district has a responsibility to hire staff that mirrors the community. Fifty-four percent of students in Hamilton County Schools are either Black or Latino, while only ten percent of educators in the district are Black or Hispanic. Nevertheless, Robertson said that the district will follow state law.
