One of those items (found here) was IX.C. Approval of Job Descriptions, which was described as follows on the agenda, "(t)he attached job description is being submitted to increase the Grade to make it equitable as it relates to the other Chief positions when considering the number of direct reports and level of accountability."
There was lengthy discussion (starting here at about 1:04:00) among the board members, Dr. Hargens, Cordelia Hardin, and Tom Hudson about raising the grade of the Chief Equity Officer position to match that of the other members of Hargens' immediate cabinet, except for the Chief of Communications. Three of the five attending board members discuss many concerns they have with the change in grade of the postion, including the justification, the audits that found the administration of JCPS was too financially top heavy, the lack of raises for positions that made far less, and why the other cabinet position (Chief Communications Officer) isn't being requested to receive a raise. As Chris Brady was questioning Dr. Hargen's discussion of (but lack of action on) the Chief Communications Officer, Diane Porter cut off his question (about 1:15:00 in the video) by stating that the item on the agenda is just THIS position. Porter then said that she thinks bumping up the grade of the position is "long overdue", and that she talked about it with Dr. Hargens and was told they would "deal with it when we had the compensation study". Then she mentions that she asked Tom Hudson at Fairdale High School "if you find an inequity in something that is on the chart will we have to wait two years for it to be taken care of?" His response was no. She says she applauds them for finally addressing the inequity tonight.
Here's the problem. The salary study, which Diane Porter approved money to fund, and later reviewed and approved to accept, didn't find an inequity. In fact, if you read the study, on page 91 of 1095 (see image below), it makes it clear that a Chief Equity Officer (as well as a Chief Communications Officer) should be a full five grades (under the consultant's grading scale) below the other Chief positions currently at JCPS' grade 18. Furthermore, the salary study makes it clear that the amount of money being made by the current Chief Equity Officer of $160,953 is well within the ranges of both their recommendations for the position AND the salaries they recommend for the higher ranked Chief positions. Indeed, the current position is compensated at a rate far higher for the salary grade in which it falls than all other Chief Officers are within their respective grades.
As the board attorney and Diane Porter stated, this was about the position, not the person. A $192,000 study by a reputable firm did a comprehensive review of all of JCPS' positions, compared them to like positions throughout the country, and came to the conclusion that the salary amount and grading were fair and equitable for the Chief Equity Officer. In my opinion, it is wrong to be upset because the very information that you've asked for comes to a conclusion you don't want to hear, and leads to action that you don't support.