Will Holmdel school board repeal transgender student policy? Vote to be held Wednesday

Holmdel's school board will vote Wednesday on whether to repeal its current student transgender policy, a move that would remove explicit protections for transgender students from the district's policy manual.

The current policy aims to create a "safe and supportive environment" for transgender students by setting guidelines for pronoun use and ways to deter harassment, intimidation or bullying of transgender students. The policy also allows students to participate in sports and use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity, or use a unisex bathroom in the school when sex-segregated bathrooms or changing rooms make the student uncomfortable.

The center of disagreement stems from a portion of the policy that prevents school officials from notifying parents of transgender students about their child's change in gender identity, unless the student consents.

Holmdel is among a number of schools across New Jersey embroiled in a dispute over the issue. Currently, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin is suing the Middletown, Marlboro and Manalapan-Englishtown Regional school districts, which amended their transgender student policies to mandate parental notification.

The state's argument for the lawsuits is that requiring parent notification violates New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination, while LGBTQ+ advocates say mandatory notification puts children at risk of harm from unsupportive parents and relatives.

But parents rights advocates say they have Constitutional protections over how they raise their children, and that withholding important information about their child's gender identity violates those rights.

In August, a Superior Court judge blocked the amended policies in the districts from taking effect until the matter could be heard in court.

Last week, Holmdel discussed removing its transgender policy altogether. The school board is set to vote on the issue Wednesday at its meeting, which will start at 6 p.m. at Holmdel High School, 36 Crawfords Corner Road.

But Holmdel is not the first New Jersey school to consider repealing the policy in the wake of the growing fight between school boards and the Office of the Attorney General.

Last week, Colts Neck's school board repealed its transgender student policy, saying the issue was already covered by the state's laws against discrimination and bullying and that the district policy was too "ambiguous," according to an article in Patch.

The Hanover Township Board of Education, a K-8 district in Morris County, also repealed its own transgender student policy last week. Board members said the district would promote parental involvement over a student's confidentiality regarding gender identity, according the Morristown Daily Record.

The lawsuits filed by the Attorney General against the Middletown, Marlboro and Manalapan-Englishtown school districts have not yet been scheduled to be heard in court, according to a spokesperson with the state department.

Previously: Holmdel School Board considers scrapping transgender policy over parental notification

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 15 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Holmdel school board to vote on whether to scrap transgender policy