Students, parents and community members gathered for the last school board meeting of the year in Forest Hills. Recent controversy has many ready for public comment on the canceling of "Diversity Day."In the beginning, board member Leslie Rassmussen was told 'Diversity Day' was canceled due to an error."I was told it was related to a permission slip error," she said. That was not the case. In response, more than 300 students walked out in protest at Turpin and Anderson High School.“I think they just want their voices heard. These students were hurt and that’s just the reality. The students rallied. They showed grace and maturity and they put on their own diversity day. They raised about twelve thousand dollars to make that happen," Rassmussen said.Wednesday night those students along with their parents and community members would show up to the school board meeting, asking that 'Diversity Day' be reinstated. “The decision to cancel diversity day has robbed many of us from a great learning opportunity. I attended the event last year and I can say it was deeply engaging and educational," said one student. “Since Anderson Township is a predominately white community, my fellow students and I need to learn about diversity. We need to be prepared for life after high school," another student said.Among those speaking were executives of Fortune 500 companies; stating diversity, equity and inclusion are at the height of what companies are teaching their employees and that starting now is the way to go. Turpin Junior, Hannah Smith, spoke about how diversity day helps educate her friends about her culture. Barely making it through her speech, she spoke with WLWT after the meeting. "It makes me sad almost as if we are going backward instead I feel like we should be going forward. That was the purpose of diversity day to educate people not only about race but to start a conversation about how people are different in our community and we need to recognize their differences," Smith said.The school board did not mention 'Diversity Day' as part of the meeting. They also did not say whether 'Diversity Day' would return on school grounds next year.

As some members of the Oakley Unified Elementary School District Board of Trustees prepared for their monthly meeting Wednesday, they spoke to one another while parents logged on. They didn't realize the public could hear their comments about parents complaining that their students are still at home doing distance learning.Board member Lisa Brizendine referred to the people who write letters to the board calling for schools to reopen, noting that the board members are members of the community with kids who've gone to the schools."They don't know what goes on behind the scenes. It's really unfortunate they want to pick on us because they want their babysitters back," said Brizendine.Board member Richie Masadas joked that his brother had a medical marijuana service and "the clientele were parents with their kids in school.""When you got your kids at home no more smoking out," Masadas added.Board member Kim Beede used profanity in one instance when talking about parents.The Contra Costa County school district is apologizing. In what was believed to be a closed session meeting, Oakley Union Elementary School board members are seen sounding off, unaware parents were listening, even recording the unfiltered conversation.Greg Hetrick, the superintendent said in part in a statement, "Last night at the Oakley Union Elementary School District Regular Board Meeting there were unfortunate and truly inappropriate comments made that were heard by many. These comments are not typical and more importantly they are not what the community should expect from our school district. "Hendrick called the district a "diverse learning community committed to educating and empowering today’s learners and tomorrow’s leaders."SFGATE and sister station KCRA-TV reached out to the Oakley Unified Elementary School District Board of Trustees members for comment but did not initially hear back.An online petition launched to call for the board to resign or be recalled noted that during the hot mic moment the board members spoke in a disrespectful way about parents in the school district."Parents were tuned in to learn if we will be sending our kids back to school soon and if not, why," the petition reads. "There has been a lack of communication from the board and this was the first communication we heard."The petition is calling for board members to resign immediately as "a recall would cost the district money that should be going to the kids."In the video, Hetrick also talks with the board members about implementing a new system for public comment in meetings that would require people to call in and record their public comments rather than making them live in a meeting. The recording would cut comments off at three minutes.As many San Francisco Bay Area school districts reach a point where they've been closed for nearly a year to in-person learning, a debate is heating up around whether it's safe for teachers and students to return to schools that have been closed as the holiday surge eases and as new, more infectious variations of COVID-19 multiply.Vaccines are at the heart of the controversy as political leaders, teachers unions and school districts argue over whether it's safe for teachers and students to return.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that vaccinating teachers isn’t a prerequisite for the safe reopening of U.S. schools, while the California Teachers Association and many local unions want all educators vaccinated before returning to the classroom. KCRA-TV contributed to this report.

Cincinnati Public Schools board members had a few hot-button issues to discuss Thursday evening. As many expected, the board voted unanimously to start the school year requiring masks for all students and staff in indoor settings. Masks are not required outdoors.School board members discussed at length the latest crisis on its hands -- busing -- without much consensus on how to move forward. SORTA announced last week that it would eliminate XTRA routes students have used for years to go directly to CPS buildings. "What are we going to do? We have to do something. Even if we say delay school, what are the implications of that? What is the impact of that?" said school board president Carolyn Jones. "We have to also take control of our own situation to some extent."SORTA is hosting a public meeting to discuss busing changes Thursday. It will be held virtually from 4-6 p.m."I thought this doesn't even seem possible that you would have this kind of change," said school board member Ryan Messer. "They might be there for 24 hours getting public comment."David Brenner is a parent of CPS students and spoke during the public comment portion of the school board meeting. "There is irrefutable harm, and it is a huge safety issue for our students," he said. "When I looked at what it would take for my students to get to school, it was at least double, so they would be on the bus at least an hour each way plus a substantial walk to get to school or to home."Educators are also concerned.Cincinnati Federation of Teachers president Julie Sellers listed several issues, including pedestrian safety."I think it's way too dangerous," she said. "I do think that the district should talk with the legal department to find out about seeking a temporary injunction prohibiting any change."The board voted to draft a letter of opposition and send it to SORTA ahead of its public meeting Thursday afternoon. The board also agreed to send additional communication about the situation to parents, request to meet face-to-face with the SORTA board CEO and request city and county leaders to also write formal letters of opposition.