School Board Leader Offended by Terminology

A California school board leader expressed strong discontent during a recent meeting over the use of the term “homeless,” insisting that “unhoused” should be used instead. Joy Flynn, the Vice Chancellor of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, described herself as “personally offended” by the phrase that’s often used in discussions around the issue.

In footage from the January 14 meeting that has surfaced online, Flynn stated, “I have a lot to say, but I will say it loud and clear, and you may not like it.” Her frustration followed a report on student performance presented by Deputy Superintendent Michael Berman, which included the term “homeless.” Flynn interrupted a fellow board member who pointed out that the term is standard in California, insisting on the change to “unhoused.”

“It’s not over yet,” she added, emphasizing her stance that such language should evolve. Additionally, Flynn disagreed with Berman’s comments regarding the representation of black students in the district, who he noted are too few to be statistically significant in metrics like graduation rates.

Berman countered by providing statistics indicating that black students experience high suspension rates, despite making up less than 1% of the student body. Flynn was affected by this assessment, expressing that even one black student’s experience should hold significance.

The North American Values Institute, an organization that monitors education policies, criticized Flynn’s reaction, suggesting that altering language for the sake of political correctness can hinder real understanding of urgent issues in education. Their spokesperson remarked, “For K-12 students, this can inadvertently lead to decisions that divert resources and interventions away from students who need them most.”