Goldwater Institute Exposes Phoenix School District’s ‘Taxpayer-Funded Wine Tastings’ in California

By Matthew Holloway |

A Phoenix public school district is facing scrutiny following revelations by the Goldwater Institute that its Governing Board and Administrative Team attended a costly “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) conference at a Napa Valley resort. This three-day event, hosted by the California Association of Black School Educators (CABSE), reportedly cost $4,000 per person.

The Goldwater Institute’s report detailed the “4th Annual California Association of Black School Educators (CABSE) Institute,” which took place at the luxurious Meritage Resort and Spa from July 14 to 17. During this period, the Creighton Elementary School District’s Governing Board and Administrative Team participated in activities including a five-hour “Chairman’s Soiree” at a local winery, with registration fees for education leaders set at $850 per person.

The conference, themed “Black to Basics, Root Causes, Interventions,” aimed to promote collaborative efforts among California educators to advance equity for Black students. Although the official agenda was not available on the CABSE website, previous conference sessions in 2023 included topics like “A Whole Village Approach to Equity,” “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning,” and “Equity in Mental Health.”

Images shared on social media by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of School showed presentations led by Project Director Dr. Stanley L. Johnson, Jr., focusing on issues pertinent to Black students’ success and school improvement practices.

Documents obtained by AZ Free News confirmed that the Creighton Elementary School District’s Governing Board had approved the trip during its April 16 meeting. The document specified that the conference aimed to bring together various educational professionals to discuss and promote strategies for advancing equity among Black students.

At a subsequent Governing Board meeting on August 6, Board Member Katie Gipson McLean described the event as “a cool, fun conference,” highlighting the encouragement for candid and open discussions about issues affecting Black and Brown youth. Board President Sophia Carrillo expressed the alignment of the conference’s theme with the district’s goals, emphasizing the importance of addressing vulnerability among students.

The Goldwater Institute raised several concerns about the conference. They questioned the allocation of time, noting a disproportionate emphasis on networking over substantive content. Additionally, they pointed out the incongruity of Phoenix school officials attending a California-centric event and questioned the district’s focus on a single racial demographic amidst overall low proficiency levels in reading among its students.

The institute called for full transparency regarding the conference agenda, a list of all attendees, and detailed travel expense receipts, including whether any attendees brought guests on this taxpayer-funded trip.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.