Charleston County schools eliminates intercultural development director’s role amid federal funding threat

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — An executive position within the Charleston County School District was eliminated Wednesday morning amid a federal crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The executive director of intercultural development is no longer employed by the district, officials confirmed Wednesday.

An email obtained by News 2 stated that the role was eliminated to comply with President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders targeting DEI initiatives, including one that threatened to withhold federal funding from public schools that failed to get rid of them.

The district risked losing nearly $55 million if it did not comply, officials said.

The matter was reportedly discussed in an executive session during the March 10 board meeting.

The email further stated that the employee was offered the opportunity to be placed in “any current classified or administrative CCSD job vacancy” but declined.

The informational page for the associated department had also been scrubbed as of Wednesday morning but a brief description is still available.

It reads: “The Office of Intercultural Development exists to support school leaders and staff develop their cultural competency through building awareness.”

The goal, according to previous reporting, was to improve equity across the district’s 80 schools in hopes of bettering student outcomes.

While officials affirmed that no other positions were impacted, one community advocate argued the move sends a larger message.

“The impact now of doing it in the way that they’ve done, it has really set us far back because of the protections we had under the law that allow us to be who we are, who we were born as — no matter gay, straight, Black, White, Latino, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander,” said Pastor Thomas Dixon, who was recently elected as chair of the Charleston County Democratic Party.

“We could be who we are and the law dictated that we command respect as who we are,” he continued.

A district spokesperson said officials are currently examining how Trump’s executive actions could impact other programs.

“The district will continue to review all practices and programs in place that could be affected by the presidential administration’s orders and will take any necessary action to ensure all CCSD students receive the support and education opportunities they need.”