Colts Neck school board rejects attempt to change transgender student policy

COLTS NECK – A proposal to restrict bathroom and locker room use by transgender students and require teachers to notify parents of gender-questioning students failed to get school board approval Wednesday after an outcry from dozens of residents.

The Board of Education voted, 7-2, against a proposal to revise the current transgender policy, which currently doesn’t require parental notification if a student opts to change their gender identity. It also allows students to use the bathroom or locker room of the gender with which they identify.

More:Colts Neck considers parent notifications for transgender students, bathroom restrictions

“I’m concerned with this as a parent and as a board member because this policy as it stands means that in the middle school, a 6th grade girl could be walking into the locker room and a boy who identified as female could be fully unclothed in the locker room,” said Board Member John Camera, who proposed the policy change two weeks ago.

“The policies mean that if a 6-year old wants to tell their teacher or counselor that they identify with a gender different than they are then that counselor should support that and not tell the parents," he added. “When that 6-year old still believes in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.”

But the majority of board members opposed the idea, with several noting that it was put forth too soon and would unfairly target students who deserve equal protection.

“Do we want to be known as a small, discriminatory district? I don’t,” said Board Member Alison DeNoia, who objected to how the policy review had been handled. She later said the policy change would “put students at risk.”

The final version of the revised policy had not been made public until just a few hours before the board meeting. DeNoia, who serves on the board policy committee, said a final version was still not in place as recently as Tuesday.

“As of last night, we were not intending to put forth a policy,” she said. “But here we are."

Board Member Brenda Dillon agreed: “There was absolutely no reason to rush this. I have spent the last week digging deep on this. You could be lining this district up for potential lawsuits, rushing this decision when it is not an emergency is not common sense.”

The board policy change would have revised the transgender policy first instituted in 2015.

It states, in part, “A safe and supportive environment within a school begins with understanding and respect.  The Board believes students, teachers, and administrators should be provided with common terminology associated with gender identity.”

Specifically, the new policy would have made make two key changes:

• The policy would make it an "affirmative duty" of the school to inform parents about a student's gender identity.

• The policy would restrict students who identify as transgender to using only bathrooms of their biological sex, "so as to prevent the exposure of genitalia of the opposite sex."

The issue drew dozens of parents and residents to the board meeting, both for and against the policy changes. Those who supported it claimed parents have the right to know about their children’s actions, while opponents said such requirements can cause harm.

“I think it is shameful.,” said William Placek, a gay parent of two children. “It segregates children instead of letting them be inclusive. School is often a safe space, especially for children.”

Jacquelyn Poland Hoagland, a former Colts Neck board member, said more review and research should have been done. “Process wasn’t followed. Usually issues go to committee that does a deep dive, and lots of statistics and consults counsel,” she said, later adding, “Children’s interests come first, even ahead of parents.”

Justin Ramirez, another parent, welcomed the change, stating the board has “courage to adopt these common-sense changes to the transgender policy.” He added that “we must start from the premise that parents are best suited” to decide for children. He then said the current policy helps to “indoctrinate kids in a gender theory that confuses and harms them.”

James Pizzillo, another parent, agreed.

“We deserve to know what our children are doing in school, their progress and especially if they have issues, a gay issue, transgender issue, whatever issues we have a right to know,” he said. “They are children. Since when do they know what they want? It is pretty cut and dry, men use the men’s room and women use the women’s room.”

But most people who addressed the board opposed the policy change.

“I’m disgusted and horrified,” said Madison Boylan, 18, a transgender woman from Atlantic Highlands. “You have no right to do this. You supposedly want a safe environment, but you are doing the exact opposite. This is sinister.”

Matt Jenkins, another parents, said, “transgender people are the new punching bag. The adverse effects are dead children.”

Former Colts Neck school board president Kathy Gizzo said the matter deserved more review.

“I strongly urge that you not approve that, that it go back to committee for the diligence and vetting and statistical analysis to consider everything you heard here tonight,” she said. “It is overwhelming to hear the impassioned pleas of this community.”

The state Department of Education in 2018 established a policy that schools must accept a student's stated gender identity, but don't have to notify parents about the student's gender decision.

The Garden State became the 11th state in the nation at the time to issue guidance on transgender students in a move intended to promote a safe and successful learning environment for them.

Joe Strupp is an award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience who covers education and several local communities for APP.com and the Asbury Park Press. He is also the author of three books, including Killing Journalism on the state of the news media, and an adjunct media professor at Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Reach him at jstrupp@gannettnj.com and at 732-413-3840. Follow him on Twitter at @joestrupp

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Colts Neck NJ school board rejects change to transgender policy