FARMINGTON – Mt. Blue Regional School District directors began their review of guidelines for school officials when integrating transgender students and a plan to minimize the health risk to staff from blood borne pathogens.
At the last board meeting, a plan to integrate transgender students brought some discussion and will again be addressed at the next meeting on Jan. 10. The first draft of protocol for transgender student integration was reviewed previously by attorneys with Drummond Woodsum who confirmed that it meets the requirements of state and federal laws.
It is noted that each student’s needs differ and should be considered on a case-by-case basis. As defined in the plan, “a school’s obligation to ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of sex requires schools to provide transgender students equal access to educational programs and activities.”
Transgender and transitioning students are at a higher risk of being bullied or harassed and “a school’s failure to treat students consistent with their gender identity may create a hostile environment,” the guidelines proposal noted.
The plan encompasses a few of the possible situations that could occur in school when addressing the needs of a transgender student and how his or her family and school officials could respond to those incidences. A procedure includes the student and parents or guardians contacting the school and meeting with school administrators, school counselor or other school officials as requested by the parents to develop a plan to address the student’s particular needs. Those needs may include privacy issues concerning exactly who the student wants knowing of his or her transgender disclosure. While school records may indicate a legal name and gender, the transgender student’s plan developed by school officials with the student and parents or guardians, may be different.
“A school must treat students consistent with their gender identity even if their education records, to include student information and learning systems, or identification documents indicate another sex,” according to the proposed guidelines.
Transgender, according to the draft’s definition, which allows that it is not meant “to provide rigid label for students” is “those individuals whose gender identity is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.”
Gender identity “refers to an individual’s internal sense of gender. One’s gender identity can be the same or different from the gender assigned at birth,” as defined in the guidelines.
A few directors questioned the protocol if the school’s records run counter to a student’s gender identity.
“The gender assignment at birth is an official school record,” Director Keith Swett of Wilton said. “The legal gender assigned at birth, unless it’s legally changed, remains the same. If it’s legally changed then school records are changed.”
With the draft as currently written,”students can come in an assert a different gender,” said Director Nancy Crosby of Weld.
“Parents, students and school officials will work together to establish gender,” said Superintendent Thomas Ward. “We are fortunate in our schools to have plenty of options.”
The proposed guidelines say the use of a restroom or locker room by a transgender student will be assigned to the gender the student “consistently asserts at school.” An accommodation to use a separate stall or staff restroom will be made if the student requests it, but is not required to use “a separate non-communal facility over his/her objection.”
Crosby noted the situation where a transgendered student may enter a locker room counter to the gender assigned at birth. “We have laws against exposing yourself,” she said. Ward responded with, “there is a student code of conduct in place.”
Betsey Hyde of Temple added that there are privacy areas, stalls where students can shower and change.
Director Douglas Dunlap of Farmington, requested that Drummond Woodsum supply the board with some background on the experiences of transgender students in schools for the next discussion on the topic.
“Up until this point, no school that refused to implement this has had federal funding withheld,” Crosby said.
“It’s not about the money, it what’s best for our children,” Ward said. The board will take up another discussion on the matter at a future meeting.
A separate, blood borne pathogens exposure control plan was initially reviewed by the school board in 2013 but was never formally approved.
An annual review and approval is required by law, Ward said. The plan provides state guidelines to minimize risk to school employees of exposure to such blood borne pathogens as Hepatitis B & C viruses and HIV.
Among the guidelines are providing protective equipment and work practices that include ongoing training for school employees. Listed among those employees who are most likely to be exposed are school nurse, athletic trainer, special education teachers and education technicians, cooks, custodians and bus drivers.
All school employees are offered a vaccine for Hepatitis B virus at no cost to the employee with the district health insurance plan covering the cost. If the employee is not insured with with district’s coverage, a claim can be submitted and the district will cover the cost. An employee can choose to opt out after signing a letter of declination.
Both proposed plans will return to the board for another discussion. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 10 in The Forum on the Mt. Blue Campus in Farmington.
Would love to see the bill from that law firm for reviewing those guidelines.
the only solution to this difficult situation is to move away from the current rest room and locker room layouts to single person units. Yes — expensive — but it needn’t be done all at once. Make the transition over time, piecemeal — to spread the cost out over time. This is what will happen in all public places — many restaurants, hotels, airports etc. are already doing this. Trans folks need to be treated with the same respect as the rest of the folks are — no one chooses this as a life style. With the negative behavior they experience for it, who would choose it, given a choice?
Knowing that our school board and schools are addressing this very important issue brought tears of joy to my eyes. Thank-you all for caring about the children and their families.
Chief Jay Strongbow, ” With the negative behavior they experience for it, who would choose it, given a choice? ”
People tend to like attention, even if it is negative. Why do people stay in abusive relationships? There are always choices. People that are ” different ” ( I don’t know what to use as a word that doesn’t offend at least one group ) certainly deserve respect for whatever their choices may be as long as it isn’t hurting anyone. But to adjust a school system on a ” case by case ” basis for each individual student just doesn’t seem very practical.
You’ve hit it, Chief. Great engineers and architects can come up with good, creative, and cost effective solutions to these situations. Same ole, same ole just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Ugh, Keith Swett. If you have a kid, let’s say a middle school kid, that is struggling with gender identity issues, how to figure out their feelings and negotiate those feelings in the world around them and you want to make this an issue of “a birth certificate is a legal document” then you’ve lost an important opportunity to support that kid when they needed you the most. Consider how poorly things went in North Carolina when folks were (and still are) asserting that the birth certificate decides where you use the bathroom. Kids purposefully exposing themselves to other kids is a behavioral issue and not a transgender issue.
Well said, Wilton mom. I applaud Dr. Tom on his advocacy for trans kids. All students should feel safe in their schools. The school will find a way to manage appropriate legal documentation. I’ve worked with trans kids in the healthcare system, and we were able to find a way.
I see it as kids wanting to experience everything that is offered to them, right or wrong. Then they will decide when they are in their 20’s to pursue the gender.
Exactly how many “transgender” students are suffering in RSU9 at the present time? How many handle their affliction without a difficiulty and don’t need any special accommodations? How have students dealt with their transgenderness in the past at RSU 9 and SAD9? Is this a solution in search of a problem?
I notice that the big national blowup this year caused by the Charlotte, NC city council has been resolved by the council rescinding their regulation !!!!
I’m with you, “Ilze” – reading this article makes me proud of our school district in their concern for our students and their families.
I am proud of all who wrote ahead of me. I expected to come on here and hear all the Puritans having a fit.. Good job..it’s 2017 not 1940.
The issue with the gender on the birth certificate is actually a measure to NOT discriminate. In some states, schools require that the gender is legally changed on the birth certificate before they will accommodate. As the policy in RSD #9 stands now (“on a case by case basis”), decisions can lead to discrimination: some will and some won’t get the accommodations. If you go by birth certificate, schools won’t have to decide on a case by case basis.
Director Keith Swett, this story quotes you as saying: “The gender assignment at birth is an official school record,” and “The legal gender assigned at birth, unless it’s legally changed, remains the same. If it’s legally changed then school records are changed.” These statements are not based in fact
I am always happy to inform the those who do not know the difference; biological sex is not a synonym for gender. I just checked both my birth certificates and neither state a legal “gender” but both do state a sex. I knew my gender since 2nd grade and my first original birth certificates does show a legal biological “sex” without indicating my so-called “legal gender”. My reissued original birth certificate shows a legal “sex” congruent with my own gender.
To help clarify, I am proud to be of Italian descent but it does not indicate I am Italian-American on my birth certificate. It does state my place of birth, which coincides with my U.S. Citizenship. Hope this helps to clarify the issue and am proud of those board members who know the difference and are trying to alleviate the bullying I endured throughout my childhood.
It is 2017, nation of crybabies. “Choosing gender” Your born male or female, period.
This is a very slippery slope folks. How are teachers supposed to handle this? If they don’t have access to these “special” files they could find themselves mistaking a students gender. Litigation and it’s expense is on the horizon. This way of handling it will just legitimize it. The crossfire of right to privacy and right of choice presents a huge problem. A better tact would be to stick with the legal document on file and if the student identifies with a different sex have them change the legal documentation. If they not are willing to do it then they can deal with the consequences.
What has happened to society? It seems the majority of the populace has to bend over backwards for the minority. We all experience difficulties in life. Buck up people it’s part of life! No one gets to ride on the easy train.
I do expect some of the previous commentors will take exception to these statements. I hope you will be civil in your rep!ies. If you aren’t that’s okay too. You see, that’s part of life and the freedoms we enjoy. There are solutions for just about any problem in life if you use a little common sense and civility.
The issue isn’t about “sucking it up.” Trans children are suffering.
*The average suicide attempt rate for a heterosexual teen is 4% of the population; for trans teens that number is 41%.
*78-89% of trans teens have experienced harassment and threats because of their gender expression
*35% of trans teens have been physically assaulted because of their gender expression
*69% of trans teens have been sexually assaulted because of their gender expression
*80% of trans students report that they feel unsafe at school because of their gender expression
We as the adults in our community OWE it to ALL of our children to feel safe in school.
Precisely what are the exact figures, YES, THE EXACT FIGURES, of “transgender” students in RSU9? Let us find out the data to determine if there is a crushing problem that must be dealt with. If it is 10 or 12 students per year we should stop and think of the expense of changing, for example, the plumbing in all the schools of district. If it should be 345 students then we have a problem that could require radical action. I would like to see a real rational treatment for this issue rather than getting swamped in a porridge of emotions.
Where did Jenn get all these figures? At they RSU9 figures? Let us know so we can review the data ourselves.
I also want to reiterate what Jim Nasium (cute name) said –
SEX is biological. Sex is what genitalia you have.
GENDER is is a social construct prescribing certain behaviors for “boys” and for “girls.” Gender is in your brain.
@ billyjoebob – Are you seriously arguing that people stay in abusive relationships because they like the attention?! And that transgendered people also do so because they like the attention? Perhaps you should volunteer for a while at an abused women’s shelter or at a teen suicide hotline. Then again, don’t. You’d do more harm than good. Get yourself educated.
@Stan Jonathan, sorry for not being clearer, no I don’t think women stay in abusive relationship for the attention. But I do feel that they have a choice to stay in the relationship.
Regarding ” not choosing ” to be a certain way. It has been my experience that children will do a lot of different things just for the sake of attention. They may ” choose ” to be a certain way one day just to fit in.
My mother chose abusers/hitters in her relationships. I don’t know why. I certainly don’t have all the answers.
Sometimes children don’t know what is best for themselves. I am not say all the time in every case.
Please don’t be so quick to judge me. I have had to bury a child, a brother at a young age. I think I am pretty darn educated, but just maybe I have a different opinion or have seen life from a different side of the street than you.
I like what Tman wrote.
I wonder, how would passing any new rules stop bullying of “trans genders.” I am certain there are ant-bullying rules in place already in RSU9. Have these rules stopped It? If not, who’s failed to put an end to it.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the administration will present little or no data about this issue as it applies to RSU9 students, so the school board can make decisions. The powers that be could plead that those files are sealed. If that should happen how can the board make clear headed decisions?
This whole thing is sorely in need of facts and clear headed reasoning.
The tiny percentage of transgendered students will be bullied even more if we start creating special bathrooms for them.
When is the PC crap going to stop? We can’t continue changing rules for the masses based on the desires of a handful of people.
I just wish we weren’t becoming a nation of “powder puffs”. What ever happened to telling it like it is? Instead we all bite our tongues and reallocate funds to “fix” a problem. If we all worry about ourselves and stop snooping around others lives we wouldn’t have such problems. Social media is a huge contributor to this. As kids we used to be able to scuffle over a problem then have an ice cream. Now we call our schools and lawyers to place blame or press charges. Our predecessors are rolling in their graves.
We have to rely on the, , Daily Bulldog reporting of the next meeting on January 10 to get more details. We’ll have to wait and see.
All I can imagine is more costs for physical plant alterations, more costs for special councilors, and more money for attorneys before they get through with us. how will actions taken by the board effect the annual budget?
I’m curious, how do students in RSU9 express this gender preference that is different than their biological state. When I went to high school (my graduating class had 600) I never saw anything like transgender behavior. Captain Planet makes a couple of good points. Outdoors does too.
I still would like to know how successful the administration of RSU9 has been in stamping out “transgender” bullying. Is there a huge problem.
I’m with you @feeling the bern — humans are born either male or female. At birth, does no one have the “choice” to “choose” what you’d “like to be”. By no means should I have to change my lifestyle or beliefs for people who choose to make waves. Find a unisex bathroom and use that one. Don’t force me to consistently have to explain to my children that “no, sweetheart, that’s really a boy using the girls bathroom” which I will continue to do. I should not have to be forced to explain something to my children that is very clearly wrong. And I’m not turning my children into “bullies” as some might imply. I’m making them realists in an incredibly unrealistic world.
Like you, Bill Reid, I went to a very large high school. To be precise, there were 610 in my graduating class. Unlike you, I did know cross-dressers and homosexual students and teachers, as well as people whose gender was never clear because they chose to be ambiguous. Gender was and is part of life. In a small town, it may attract more attention than it did sixty-odd years ago in a city.
After teaching for nearly 40 years, here and in that midwestern city, I became only too aware of the distress high school students feel concerning these extremely private issues. Whatever we do as a district to smooth the path rather than calling attention to their “erroneous behavior” (as some of you seem to judge it), should arise from compassion and temperate, moderate acceptance of a difficult situation. Let’s not blow up an issue which should be quietly dealt with: our children (those with issues and those without) deserve no less.
Wow, after reading the comments on this issue it’s no wonder all the smart kids leave town or State for a better life after graduating. Darwin’s theory of evolution also applies to the social and economic viability of small rural towns. Evolve or bite off your own hand to survive.
As I get older it’s interesting to watch culture change. Some people find cultural change difficult – it’s “weird” or “strange.” They hold on to what was “normal” during their formative years. Others embrace it, often not understanding how difficult cultural change is for people who have internalized old norms. I think the best approach is to deal with reality, embrace it, but show understanding for those who can’t comprehend why such a change is occurring. Once it was rock n roll, long hair, the pill, mini-skirts, women in the work force, stay at home dads … and probably forty years from now we’ll have designer babies and genetic manipulation that those now on the cutting edge of change will think “unnatural” and oppose. Yet since the enlightenment, one thing constant about our culture is that it changes. What is ‘normal’ is simply a cultural construct. I do think we need to respect all students here, transgender and not – which is often tricky.
Paraphrasing, “Wow, after reading the leftie comments on this issue it’s no wonder Trump won.”
We are mariners after all. There is a logical and common sense answer to most problems we face in life. Would it be so hard and expensive to use stalls in all restrooms? This would help not only gender issues but shy and self awareness issues as well. Come on people. We CAN figure this out.
Mans law or Gods law. Maybe law firm and school ( whoops learning center) board should see what the Bible says.