Correction: A previous version of this article used statements
from an amended proposal of policy 2420 not the final version approved Sept.
10. We regret the error.
The
Stafford County School Board voted 4-3 in favor of revisions to its
nondiscrimination policies 4107 and 2420 that would include sexual orientation
and gender identity as proposed by Superintendent Scott Kinzer. The vote was
part of the agenda during the board’s regular meeting at the Alvin York Bandy
Administrative Complex Sept. 10.
More
than 200 people attended the meeting causing a need for increased security and
an overflow location. The policy revisions went through several changes over
several weeks even up to the day it was put to a vote.
While
previous versions of the 2420 policy included specific guidelines, the final
version was more general.
The
approved policy 2420 states, “No student shall be denied equal access to
programs, activities, services or benefits or be limited in the exercise of any
right, privilege or advantage based on race, color, national origin, political
affiliation, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical
conditions, marital status, disability, age, genetic information, sexual
orientation and gender identity. Educational programs shall be designed to meet
the varying needs of all students. It is the intent of the School Board of
Stafford County that every policy, practice, regulation, and procedure shall
reflect this commitment. Behavior that is not unlawful may nevertheless be
unacceptable for the learning environment. Demeaning or otherwise harmful
actions are prohibited.”
The
policy further states, “The superintendent/designee shall be responsible for
developing a plan that implements the intent of the board as set forth in this
policy … ”
Before
voting, the board heard statements from 83 citizens who were allotted three
minutes each for their comments. Many parishioners from St. William of York
Church in Stafford attended along with representatives from the Virginia
Catholic Conference. The first to speak was Deacon Jim Benisek from St. William
of York, who questioned how the proposed policy would impact the privacy
concerns of the students.
“I
do not believe that all of the members of this board can answer that simple
question,” said Deacon Benisek. “You are passing this policy to let an
unelected and unaccountable staff member or the courts determine the meaning of
the policy. This is bad legislative practice and will result in a waste of
taxpayer dollars.”
Deacon
Benisek was followed by Father Robert J. DeMartino, pastor of St. William of
York.
In
an interview before the meeting, Father DeMartino said, “I’m the pastor of this
entire community by canon law. I need to be here. Every person is searching for
happiness but you can’t build happiness on a lie. I’m not opposed to anyone
here. I’m here for them and their eternal welfare.”
The
final vote came shortly after midnight in favor of the policy.
Middle-school
English teacher Anne Adams was among those who spoke in favor of the policy
saying that although she has never had a bullying issue while integrating a
transgender child in her classroom in her 22 years as a teacher she still feels
it protects transgender students and those teachers who want to support them.
While
the new policy approval may seem like an equal rights win to supporters, it is
unclear if the religious rights of teachers and students of faith will be
respected or if they will be considered demeaning.
A
previous version of the policy proposed by Kizner stated that school staff
shall honor a student’s request to be addressed by the student’s preferred name
and gender pronoun and shall permit the student to use the restroom, locker
room or changing facility consistent with the student’s asserted gender
identity.
The
previous version went on to discuss transgender students’ inclusion in
sex-segregated classes, extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletic
activities, and accommodations for overnight field trips.
It
also stated that if a high school student expressed discomfort with a
transgender student’s use of the same sex-segregated restroom, school
administrators and counseling staff may address the discomfort and foster an
understanding of gender identity.
Many
opponents of the policy worry that although the approved policy does not
specifically include these provisions, many of them will be implemented under
Kizner.
Kassock
is a freelance writer in Fredericksburg.
