A planned discussion on the Douglas County School District’s equity policy was delayed after the school board had a lengthy conversation on Aug. 9 about the proposed bond and mill levy override questions. 

Earlier this year, the school board directed the superintendent to re-evaluate the district’s equity policy and its implementation with a deadline in September. Board agenda documents indicate Superintendent Erin Kane will ask the board to extend that deadline to June 2023 to collect more feedback and conduct more outreach. 

Kane previously told Colorado Community Media that she hopes to hear from the teachers, parents and students about the fears and desires for the policy and move forward from there.

Discussion about Kane’s plans to gather more information and engage the community through the school year was moved to the Aug. 23 board meeting.

The district adopted the current equity policy in March 2021. Following the passage of the policy, several community members raised concerns that the district was teaching critical race theory, which is an academic and legal framework for exploring structural or systemic racism. Douglas County schools do not teach critical race theory, according to the district website.