Calvert County board eliminates anti-racism policy

Calvert County's all-white school board voted 5-0 on Aug. 7, 2025, to repeal Policy 1018 anti-racism resolution after Board President JSJana Smith-Post claimed separate policies 'elevate one form of discrimination over other forms.' The policy was created in Dec. 2020 following a hate crime where four teens pleaded guilty to spray-painting the N-word on Calvert High School's football field.

Black students represent 13.4% of Calvert County enrollment but 31% of all suspensions, creating a 3.6x overrepresentation rate that proves systemic bias exists in disciplinary practices. The board eliminated targeted anti-racism protections while ProPublica data demonstrated generic policies failed to prevent racial disparities.

Board member MGMelissa Goshorn was one of seven plaintiffs in a 2021 federal lawsuit claiming Policy 1018 contained 'tenets of critical race theory' to fulfill a 'radicalized political agenda.' Federal Judge Paula Xinis dismissed the case in 2022, calling the plaintiffs' legal approach 'fundamentally flawed,' but Goshorn then won election to the board in Nov. 2024.

Trump won 54.18% of Calvert County votes in Nov. 2024, helping elect the all-white conservative board that immediately targeted diversity programs. The board also removed 'inclusive and supportive school community' from the district mission statement and requested removal of 'safe space' stickers from school buildings.

More than 200 protesters rallied before the Aug. 7 meeting holding signs reading 'Stop pretending your racism is patriotism,' but Board President Smith-Post banged her gavel to interrupt supporters and ordered police to 'clear the room' before the meeting officially ended. The meeting took place in the former William Sampson Brooks High School, which served as the segregated school for Black students from 1939-1966.

Calvert County's first Black superintendent Andraé Townsel left in Jul. 2025 with one year remaining on his contract, taking a position in 🦞Connecticut. The board replaced him with Marcus Newsome, who's served as president of National Bible College and Seminary for four years, raising church-state separation concerns among parents.

🦀Maryland State Superintendent CWCarey Wright issued a 'calm, but stern warning' in Aug. 2025 telling local officials to 'Follow state law' after reporters specifically asked about Calvert and Somerset counties' diversity policy changes. Wright has authority to withhold funding and remove board members for 'willful neglect of duty.'