MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission on Tuesday issued a statement expressing concern with the Cumberland Valley School District's decision to cancel a middle school assembly featuring actor and author Maulik Pancholy and reminded the public about a special meeting of the CVSD School Board to discuss the issue on Wednesday.
The former "30 Rock" actor was scheduled to speak to students at Mountain View Middle School on May 22, but the event was cancelled in a unanimous decision by the school board, which cited concerns that Pancholy’s talk would creep into what they deemed “political” territory, going against a previously instated policy that bars political events from Cumberland Valley schools.
Pancholy, who is gay, visits schools to discuss bullying and promote inclusion.
The school board's decision was questioned by some concerned parents at a meeting last week, some of whom signed a petition asking the board to reverse its decision.
Cumberland Valley School District released a letter on April 18 to faculty, staff and administration expressing direct disappointment felt by the District's Cabinet-level administration regarding the cancellation.
"We believe that Mr. Pancholy's assembly should have been allowed to happen and that all of our staff and students should be proud to be part of a school community that values who they are," CVSD officials wrote in the letter.
PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter also expressed his disappointment in Tuesday's statement.
“It is concerning to see a public school cancel an event about anti-bullying and inclusion,” he said. “This was an opportunity for students to hear from someone who they may relate to, and instead students are learning about exclusion and discrimination. I would also like to express support for the school’s superintendent who is speaking against the school board’s decision. As a commonwealth, we should be finding more opportunities to teach diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, not restricting them.”
“This situation is an example of why representation in education matters,” said PHRC Education & Outreach Director Desireé Chang, M.S. “These students are seeing firsthand how a person can be discriminated against and excluded just by simply embracing parts of their identity openly. This is not the example we should be modeling to our students.”
The PHRC offers specific training tailored to the needs of an organization on many topics, which among others, include the following:
- Civil Rights Law and PHRC Jurisdiction
- PHRC Overview & How to File a Complaint
- Bullying and Harassment Prevention
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB)
- Cultural Awareness.
The goal of every training and event is to always promote equal opportunity, and help communities, public agencies, businesses and schools prevent or eliminate illegal discrimination, the PHRC said.
Meanwhile, The CVSD school board will hold a special meeting to discuss the topic further on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Cumberland Valley High School Performing Arts Center. The board will allow for public comment and will be live-streamed on the CVSD website.
Attendees should enter the High School through the Eagle Lobby/PAC entrance (under the “big CV” near the tennis courts). The meeting will also be live streamed to the CVSD website.
MEETING LIVESTREAM: Please click here to view the live stream of the school board meeting.