A group of parents with children at the Ray School, the public elementary school in Hanover NH, are challenging a SAU 70 policy that protects a child’s gender identity from the child’s parents. The news story by Peter D’Auria appeared in VTDigger on January 26.
Marion Cross School, the Norwich VT public elementary school, is also part of School Administrative Unit 70. MCS has the same policy in place. In contrast, however, Norwich parents have not complained about and several have expressed support for the policy, say school officials.
VTDigger reports:
Under a district policy known as JBAB — a student gender policy used in New Hampshire school districts — school staff cannot tell parents, family members or other school employees about a child’s gender identity “unless legally required to do so or unless the student has authorized such disclosure.” …
This school year, a group of anonymous parents in Hanover, New Hampshire, is seeking to strike down those protections, according to communications obtained by VTDigger through a public records request.
In cross-border school district, protections for transgender students face a legal threat
The VTDigger article does not address the views of Marion Cross School parents. However, Norwich School Board Chair Tom Candon told me by email that he has not heard any concerns from MCS parents. SAU 70 Superintendent Jay Badams elaborated. “While we haven’t had any complaints from Norwich parents about our policy, we have received calls from several Norwich parents who are urging us to maintain the policy as it is.” Dr. Badams also believed that the policy “is well aligned with guidance we have received” from the Vermont Agency of Education.
Different views
The lawyer for the Ray School parents wrote in his October letter that “adopting policies that encourage school personnel to hide important facts about children from their parents are completely inappropriate, counter-productive, and illegal.” However, LGBTQ+ advocates see school as a safe place, according to the VTDigger story. “Requiring school staff to inform parents could force students to keep their identity hidden — which carries its own costs.”
To date, the lawyers for SAU 70 and the Ray School have met. Counsel for SAU 70 is reviewing the policy. In addition, the VTDigger article says a discussion in a public forum would precede any change in policy.