NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – President Donald Trump’s executive order eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies is making an impact here in the Midstate.

Tensions were high in Rutherford County on Thursday night as the school board voted to ask the state to remove its DEI hiring guidelines.

People in the crowd started chanting “shame” after the resolution passed by a vote of 4 to 3.

Resolution sponsor Caleb Tidwell said he didn’t propose this resolution because he is against diversity, he just doesn’t want it used in making hiring decisions or have quotas for people of certain backgrounds.

During a contentious public comment session, parents compared the resolution to Jim Crow laws and white supremacy. They also pointed out that eliminating DEI will cause the most harm to white women and veterans.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DEI being challenged in Rutherford County Schools

Several school board members also expressed their concerns over changes to the diversity policies before the vote was taken.

“This is the second resolution that we brought up that’s caused division in the community and caused problems,” Rutherford County School Board member Butch Vaughn said. “We don’t have a dog in this hunt. It’s a federal issue and a state issue and they’ve taken care of addressing it.”

“The message you are conveying is that if you are not a middle-class white guy, don’t apply,” Rutherford County School Board member Stan Vaught said. “I don’t think that is the message that you are trying to say, but that is how it is coming out right now. It’s kind of like telling me that I am fat and ugly. I understand that, I know that, and it wouldn’t hurt my feelings.”

School Board Chair Claire Maxwell said the county is not facing any DEI issues that would require these state laws to be changed. She said the district always hires the most qualified candidate, and she’s received phone calls from several parents who were concerned this change would lead to discrimination for their students with disabilities and students of color.

Republican lawmakers in the state legislature are already working to eliminate DEI initiatives, including in schools. Rep. Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville) has filed two bills that would prevent state and local governments from making hiring decisions based on race, religion, sex, age or disability.

“Every Tennessean deserves an equal opportunity for employment based on their abilities, not their background,” Maberry said in a statement. “The Dismantle DEI Act promotes fairness, merit and efficiency in local governments and public universities. It champions equality, not anti-diversity, and encourages inclusion through fair and unbiased hiring practices.”

The Rutherford County resolution simply shows support for the state making the changes proposed in Maberry’s bills.

School Board members Katie Darby and Frances Rosales said they like merit-based hiring practices but did not want these changes to limit their ability to support students.

“I’m a huge fan of merit-based decisions,” Darby said. “At the end of the day, what is best for our students is to have the best educator in the classroom. Regardless of the color of their skin, their religion, their sexual orientation, it doesn’t matter. We want the best teacher in the classroom teaching our students.”

Tidwell said multiple times during Thursday’s meeting that he was told by state representatives that these bills have enough support to pass very quickly and be implemented in hiring policies across Tennessee.

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