CPS faces backlash after not renewing chief equity officer’s contract

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Fallout continues after Columbia Public Schools’ decision not to renew Chief Equity Officer Carla London’s contract, a move that sparked protests and drew criticism from community leaders during Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. 

The Columbia NAACP says it is continuing to meet to determine if any further action will be taken against the district. 

The Columbia Board of Education voted 6-1 during a closed session not to renew London’s contract, with Alvin Cobbins being the lone vote against the decision, according to CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark. The district posted the position last week, with plans to fill it for the 2026-27 school year.

CPS officials said the board follows the same annual process for contracts each year. Teacher and administrator contracts run from July 1-June 30, with the board voting on whether to renew them.

London, who has been with the district for more than a decade, was hired as its first chief equity officer in 2017. She previously served as director of student services and led the district’s Aspiring Scholars program. She also serves on the board of the Nora Stewart Early Learning Center.

“She was actually handpicked by Beulah Ralph, who, there's a school named after out in Thornbrook,” Pamela Hardin, president of the Columbia NAACP, told ABC 17 News. 

The decision prompted backlash during Monday’s board meeting, which was abruptly halted after a group of residents protested. Speakers accused the board of lacking transparency and said the move undermined trust in the district. Many of the speakers were with the home-school communicators, a group that serves as a liaison between schools and students in the district.

Despite concerns from the home-school communicators, the district says there will be no changes to the program, noting the board approved adding an additional position, bringing the total to 29 next school year. 

Hardin said the response from the community was widespread.

“It was a great showing last night with the home-school communicators that she works with,” Hardin said. “They respected her because they said she was very efficient, that she stuck to the rules, that she made sure that the things they needed to be successful was available to them."

But Hardin added the decision didn’t just ruffle the feathers of the home-school communicators.

“There were individuals who knew her, that had worked with her, who knew her personally, and she has always been a person of great integrity and thoughtfulness, understanding," Hardin said. "Most people would say that she was a workaholic.” 

During Monday night's meeting, tensions escalated after additional attendees who had not signed up for public comment were denied the chance to speak. Following a back-and-forth, the board called a recess as protesters sang “We Shall Overcome.” Hardin criticized how the board handled the situation.

“I don't think they handled the meeting well. And I had a problem with the fact that they knew that this issue was a pop up issue because they popped her in and fired her,” Hardin said, “They knew the importance of what we were there for. And so we had to  kind of let them know that the NAACP  we're going to stick to what we came for, that we're not going to be pushed to the back and pushed to the side.”

She added that protesters felt they had to take action to be heard.

“We are a civil rights organization and not a civil wrongs organization so we are always trying to do what is in the best interest of not just the NAACP but the community. And  in order for us to do that, when we take a stand, we have to stand firm. And that's what we did," Hardin said. "I mean, we had to sing 'We Shall Overcome.' We had to do whatever we had to do because we were letting them know that we were there till we got recognized, so that we could express to them the disappointment  that we have.” 

After the recess, the board allowed three additional speakers, all of whom voiced support for London. 

Hardin also raised concerns about how London’s departure was handled.

“Our understanding is that she was told that she was fired and was basically told she had to leave immediately as if she had done a crime,” Hardin said. “She said she was not given due process.”

Hardin said one reason cited for London’s removal was the district’s achievement gap. 

“We all know she's not responsible for the achievement gap," Hardin said. "She's responsible to give the home-school communicators and people like that the tools that they need to make a difference in the community. And then it's up to the teachers and it's up to the school board to make sure that the things are there to help close that gap and to put all that burden on her  as if she is the sole problem, to me it’s just totally ridiculous.” 

Hardin also questioned how the district plans to rebuild trust moving forward.

“I don't know how hard it will be for that person. Still no understanding as to why, if you're going to fill that position and you had someone with that kind of support that you would get rid of them. There hasn't been an explanation that's satisfying, or that is that makes sense,” Hardin said. “ “The community is not happy with it. The NAACP is not happy with it. And we are going to stick with Karla until she's made whole,” 

London attended Monday’s meeting, but did not speak. However, according to Hardin, she went up and thanked members from the home-school communicators and the NAACP. 

“She expressed that her record is clean and is an open book and that there's nothing in her file,” Hardin said.