The San Diego school board on Monday scrapped its plan to invite new Secretary Education Betsy DeVos to visit the school district because of complaints from the teachers union, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Board President Richard Barrera told the Union-Tribune the proposed resolution was intended to help DeVos "learn all the things that public schools are doing well" and to "challenge her views openly in a public setting."
But the invite, set to be issued Tuesday at the school board's public meeting, was withdrawn after the San Diego Education Association questioned the resolution.
Barrera, in hindsight, said it was not the right time to invite DeVos.
"Now is the time for those of us who believe in public education to stand together and confront the threat clearly posed by the DeVos ideology," he said in a statement.
Barrera also apologized to "all of those we excluded from the conversation by moving forward so quickly."
DeVos' nomination was marred with protests, and her confirmation narrowly went through, 51-50, with Vice President Mike Pence having to provide the tiebreaking vote in the Senate. The wealthy Republican donor has no experience in public education and has publicly backed charter schools and vouchers, which put her at odds with public school advocates.
DeVos recently visited a public school in Washington but was turned away by protesters.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.