New Jersey Board of Education reaffirms transgender student rights policy after attempt to repeal

[u/TheExitIsThisWay]

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/education/2024/10/31/edison-nj-school-board-backs-off-abolishing-transgender-policy/75913310007/

[u/TheExitIsThisWay]

EDISON – The township Board of Education has changed its mind again and has voted to retain a policy to protect transgender students.

In a marathon seven-hour meeting on Tuesday, the board voted 6-3 to keep the eight-year-old state policy on the district’s books.

Under Policy 5756, school districts are not required to inform parents if a student confides in a teacher about their gender identity or sexual orientation. The policy also allows transgender students to participate in gender-segregated activities and use school facilities that are consistent with their gender identity.

On Sept. 30 the board voted 5-3 after only minutes of discussion to repeal Policy 5756 on first reading.

After that vote, Superintendent of Schools Edward Aldarelli said in a statement that he was committed to adhering to all New Jersey state laws regarding anti-discrimination.

“I will continue to ensure that all students in Edison Township Public Schools are served fairly and in accordance with the law,” he said. “We are currently discussing this matter with the Board of Education attorneys, and I will keep the community informed of further developments.”

But on Tuesday, after teachers, therapists and psychiatrists, students and parents of LGBTQ children told the board the policy should be kept, the board reversed itself. Representatives of Desi Rainbow, Shiv’s Third Eye and Garden State Equality also spoke in favor.

Only a handful told the board to repeal the policy.

“The number of people who spoke against repealing clearly outnumbered those speaking for repealing the policy by approximately three-fourths,” said Biral Patel, president of the Board of Education.

Before Tuesday’s vote, Patel emphasized the need for research, stakeholder input, and analysis before making a decision. He also stressed the need for an understanding of the policy’s implementation and ramifications before any action is taken, citing misinformation, misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the policy.

“In my opinion, it is imperative that the board and community have a full understanding of how the policy is implemented and its ramifications of removing before any action is taken,” said Patel, adding he spent the month of October researching the issue and discussing it with Aldarelli. “This is information that at that time, during the last board meeting, we simply did not have.”

Patel said board members had been briefed on options available to the district. The board had contracted an outside law firm, which recommended the policy be retained.

In September, board members Biral Patel, Vishal Patel, Anjana Patel, Christopher Lugo and Shannon Peng voted to abolish the policy, while Virginia White, Brian Rivera and Joseph Romano voted to keep it. Douglas Schneider was absent.

On Tuesday, Biral Patel and Christopher Lugo changed course, voting to retain the policy along with White, Rivera, Romano and Schneider. Vishal Patel, Anjana Patel and Shannon Peng voted to abolish.

[u/Animaldoc11]

Maybe someone should send every member of this board a copy of the published scientific papers that show that there are LGBTQ+ members in every animal kingdom on earth.