The Prince William County Human Rights Commission is reviewing the county school board’s decision last week to replace its affirmative action policy with a directive stressing nondiscrimination.

The Prince William County School Board last week removed language suggesting race and gender should be factored into hiring decisions to produce a diverse staff in a change designed to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action law.

The Human Rights Commission, citing a report in The Examiner, raised questions about the decision last week and scheduled a briefing on the issue for its February session.

“We want to look at why they did it and what they’re going to put in its place,” Commission Vice Chairman Carlos Labiosa said. “This is a very important issue, and we need to look at it in detail.”

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The inquiry will be taken seriously, School Board Chairman Milt Johns told The Examiner on Monday, saying the board had an obligation to replace a policy that he viewed as conducive to reverse-discrimination lawsuits.

“Our change to the affirmative action [policy] was legal and appropriate, and I think we did the right thing,” Johns said. “It is my personal opinion as an attorney, the way that our policy read before was more problematic.”

The school board action followed concerns about the constitutionality of affirmative action policies following a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court ruling saying that while race can be used in hiring, the University of Michigan’s admissions policies created illegal quotas. The new policy stresses the school board “is committed to an educational and employment environment free of discrimination in any form.”

But Labiosa said the community needed more explanation for the policy change, saying the issue needed additional public dialogue. Any change must not discourage minority teachers from applying, he said.

The Human Rights Commission, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, waded into the county’s illegal immigration debate last year, writing in September that the proposals the board eventually adopted had stoked division and fear in the community.

Change in language

New: “The Prince William County School Board is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and to the provision of equity in its educational programs, services and activities for all students and employees.”

Old: “Analyze present work force to identify jobs, departments and schools where minorities and females are underrepresented. Set specific, measurable, attainable hiring and promotion goals, with target dates, in each area of underrepresentation. Make every administrator and supervisor accountable for helping to meet these goals.”

dgenz@dcexaminer.com