The Tamalpais Union High School District has turned down an offer of $250,000 in private funding for two consultants to help Black students at Tamalpais High School.

The Friends of Tam District, a community group, sought to pay for a one-year contract renewal for Tenisha Tate-Austin and Paul Austin. They oversee the Black Students Success Team and the Tam Hub drop-in center at the school.

But the district declined to place the item on the agenda for the board meeting on Tuesday, and trustees did not discuss or respond to any of the sometimes caustic public comments at the meeting.

“Cutting the contracts of Tenisha and Paul, who created the BSST and the Tam Hub, does more harm to Black students, and the broader school community, than it helps,” said parent Vanessa Justice, one of about 20 speakers at the crowded meeting with more than 65 attendees. “The community outrage speaks for itself.”

Cynthia Roenisch, the president of the board, said before the meeting that the matter has already been decided not to renew the contracts. Instead, she said, school staff will maintain support for Black students.

The incoming district superintendent, Courtney Goode, who starts the job next week, has already begun plans that will put employees in charge of the Black Student Success Team and Tam Hub programs, Roenisch said.

“The board steadfastly supports Dr. Goode in his efforts, including using his own experience and expertise in establishing support systems for students,” Roenisch said. “The board looks forward to learning more specifics of the support services at the Aug. 12 board meeting.”

The district has faced public pressure since June 3, when the trustees voted 3-2 not to renew the contracts for Austin and Tate-Austin. Their programs offer academic support, mentoring and tutoring.

Cristine DeBerry, a leader of the Friends of Tam District, said she and others were baffled by the trustees’ rejection of the private funding.

“I am confused how we have gotten to this place of such hostility and disrespect for parents, teachers and children for simply asking for the opportunity for our children to succeed in their high school,” DeBerry told the board on Tuesday.

“You have done serious damage with the way you have treated us and our children,” she said. “You have caused real harm to my family and to other families in this room.”

DeBerry’s online petition to restore the two contracts had nearly 1,600 signatures as of Wednesday.

Parent Gabrielle Muse told trustees the controversy was the result of “systemic racism in action.”

“You didn’t prioritize our comments; you refer to the talented educators not by name, but as ‘a couple’; and you’ve used every excuse in the book, all of which have been thoroughly and effectively debunked by my fellow colleagues and educators,” Muse said.

Muse said trustees have been “lying to this community” because the board had “no plan for seven years” that worked to help Black students before Austin and Tate-Austin arrived. She said the excuse that the contracts were “rushed” was a lie.

“How could it be rushed?” she said. “You had seven years.”

Another unsupported rationale by the board, according to Muse, is a lack of money in the budget to cover the contracts. The private funding would have solved the problem, she said.

“It is not the budget — it is racism, plain and simple,” she said.

Roenisch, who had to call for order several times during the public comment period, said Goode met with students, parents, Tam High staff and the consultants as he gathered information on the program during a recent visit.

“He reiterated very clearly that Mr. Austin and Ms. Tate-Austin were not returning to Tamalpais High School, and communicated this directly to Mr. Austin and Ms. Tate-Austin,” Roenisch said.

DeBerry was skeptical that the new structure will have the same positive results that consultants achieved.

“Despite the measurable improvements BSST has generated in just one year — including stronger academic performance, increased student engagement and a greater sense of belonging — the board has chosen to terminate the program rather than provide a pathway to sustain it,” DeBerry said.

Austin said he holds onto the belief that the matter will be resolved somehow in a positive way.

“I’m always hopeful — I believe in humanity,” Austin said. “I expect for people to do what’s right. That’s how I live my life. Whether they do that or not, they have to live with that. I’m just nervous that it’s going to hinder our kids even more.”