CPS Drops Equity Leader, Sparks Community Outcry

Columbia Public Schools decided not to renew the contract of Carla London, the district’s chief equity officer. The board met in a closed session and voted 6‑1 against the renewal, with only Alvin Cobbins opposing. London has served for over a decade, starting as director of student services and later leading the Aspiring Scholars program. She also sits on the board of the Nora Stewart Early Learning Center. The choice caused a heated reaction during Monday’s meeting. Residents and members of the home‑school communicators, who work to connect families with schools, protested loudly. They said the board lacked transparency and that firing London hurt trust in the district. The protest was paused when the board called a recess, after which three new speakers voiced support for London.The NAACP’s president, Pamela Hardin, criticized how the decision was handled. She said London was told she was “fired” and had to leave immediately, a move that felt like a crime rather than a normal contract review. Hardin also pointed out that London was blamed for the district’s achievement gap, even though she had only been responsible for providing tools to teachers and communicators. She argued that the burden of closing the gap should not rest on one person. London was present at the meeting but did not speak. According to Hardin, she thanked members of the home‑school communicators and the NAACP for their support. London’s record was described as clean, with no issues in her file. The district says it will fill the position for the 2026‑27 school year and that no changes will be made to the home‑school communicator program. However, the NAACP plans to keep meeting and may take further action if it feels the community’s concerns are not addressed. The incident highlights tensions over equity leadership in schools and raises questions about how districts manage contract renewals, transparency, and community trust.