Fairfax County School Board to meet tonight, May 7, on Transgender Nondiscrimination

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, Fairfax Underground: See What FCPS Board decides on Transgender issue . bathrooms, etc. Board Meeting Thurs. 5/7 @ Jackson Middle School, Gallows Road

Agenda Item Details: Policy 1450, Nondiscrimination

Agenda Item Details

Meeting May 07, 2015 - Regular Meeting No. 19

Category Action Items - 8:15 p.m.

Subject Policy 1450, Nondiscrimination

Type Action

Recommended Action Adopt Policy 1450, Nondiscrimination, as detailed in the agenda item (SB; presented as new business 4/23/15)

{Updated 5/5/15 - Proposed motions}

Staff Contact: Phyllis Pajardo, assistant superintendent, Human Resources

Other Staff Present: Kevin Sills, director, Office of Equity and Employee Relations

Meeting Category: May 7, 2015 - Regular Meeting No. 19

Subject: Policy 1450, Nondiscrimination

School Board Action Required: Decision

Key Points:

The policy is updated to reflect the inclusion of gender identity under the nondiscrimination policy.

Recommendation:

That the School Board adopt Policy 1450, Nondiscrimination, as detailed in the agenda item.

Proposed motion:

I move to defer this matter until the second School Board meeting in October, 2015, so that the Board can be provided the commensurate draft regulation and handbook language and determine the overall impact of this change to Policy 1450. (Elizabeth Schultz)

Proposed follow on motion:

I move that the School Board review the procedural handbook for Policy 1450, Nondiscrimination, once the handbook is completed, prior to the handbook's implementation in the district. (Ryan McElveen)

Attachment: Policy 1450, Nondiscrimination

P1450Nondiscrimination.pdf (18 KB)

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Fairfax school board approves transgender protections

Fairfax school board approves transgender protections

Education
By T. Rees Shapiro May 7 at 11:23 PM
@TReesShapiro

The Fairfax County School Board voted to approve expanding protections to transgender students and staff Thursday night at a rambunctious meeting that included chants, jeers and vocal opposition from hundreds of parents. ... The School Board voted 10 to 1 with one abstention to add “gender identity” to its non-discrimination policy, two months after Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) issued an opinion granting local school boards the authority to expand protections to transgender people.

The School Board voted in November to include sexual orientation in its non-discrimination policy after the Supreme Court let stand rulings that allow gay marriages in Virginia and other states. ... “The decision by the Fairfax County School Board to add ‘gender identity’ to our nondiscrimination policy is to provide an environment which promotes equality where every student and employee is treated with dignity and respect,” board Chair Tammy Derenak Kaufax (Lee) said.

School Board members acknowledged that in the days before Thursday’s vote they had received thousands e-mails from parents and others in the community.

The auditorium at Luther Jackson Middle School was filled to capacity, with about 500 people in attendance. At times, the meeting was interrupted by vocal opposition from hundreds in the audience who chanted and booed. ... Kaufax at one point hammered her gavel and threatened to clear the auditorium if audience members continued to interject. At least five Fairfax County police and school security officers were standing in the room during the meeting. Some in attendance stood to turn their backs on board members as they spoke in favor of the policy change.