Last week as reported by the Londonderry Time the Londonderry school district expected to discuss a transgender non-discrimination policy soon. The school district will begin the discussion at the May 17/2017 School Board Meeting. In addition to the memo below the school board will be presented with 231 pages of documentation, including a proposed policy.
Memo
To: Londonderry School Board
From: Nate Greenberg
Date: May 10, 2016
Re: NON-DISCRIMINATION TRANSGENDER STUDENTS BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The treatment and rights of transgender students has received a significant amount of media coverage of late nationally and within our State. It is important that we ensure that our schools are not fostering discrimination while addressing the concerns of parents of all sides of the topic.
We presently have a Non-Discrimination Policy AC as well as a Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy ACA-S. It is clear, based on recent court ruling (Grim), the Acadia Resolution Agreement and the Dear Colleague Guidelines from the U.S.D.O.E. that transgender students are included under various federal laws including but not limited to Title IX and the Civil Rights Act. The previously mentioned laws as well as several State laws and Administrative Regulations are the legal basis for the two aforementioned policies. Thus, it would make sense going forward for the Board to adopt guidelines pertaining to transgender children (draft guidelines enclosed).
This packet contains materials that are germane to the topic of transgender students and can be useful in the discussion regarding the draft guidelines and various operational aspects of said guidelines. I would propose that the Board use the included information as well as my presentation as a jumping off point for discussion and receive at this meeting and a subsequent meeting community comments. Too, it would also be an opportunity to provide the administration with questions that the Board may have for additional information prior to making a final determination on the draft guidelines.
Included in the packet are the following:
- Power Point Presentation
- Title IX and Sex Discrimination – U.S.D.O.E.
- Title IX Protections Transgender Students – FindLaw
- Dear Colleague Letter U.S.D.O.E. Office of Civil Rights
- U.S.D.O.E. Press Release Resolution Downey Unified School District
- U.S.D.O.E. Office of Civil Rights – Guidance Document
- Grimm vs Gloucester County School Board
- Two Articles Related to Above Grim Case
- Case Summary Student vs Arcadia Unified School District
- Resolution Agreement Arcadia School District
- Title XV Chapter 186:11 – highlighted XXXIII
- Ed 303.01 Substantive Duties School Board Highlighted (i) and (j)
- Title XXXI 354A:7I
- Title XXXI-354A:2-XIV-c, XV (a), (b), (c), (d)
- Londonderry Policy AC Non-Discrimination
- Londonderry Policy ACA-S Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy
- Draft Transgender Student Guidelines
- NHIAA By Law Article III Section 5 Transgender Participation
Schools in Transition - Transgender Policies – Portsmouth and Oyster River School Districts
- Organization of Federal Court System