RSU 10 board adopts first readings of revised nondiscrimination, harassment policies after extensive debate

The Westin Foothills Regional School Unit 10 School Board voted to approve first readings of revised nondiscrimination and harassment policies — AC (nondiscrimination/equal opportunity/affirmative action), ACAA (harassment of students) and ACAB (harassment of employees) — following an extended discussion and several failed amendments to remove gender-identity references.

The changes are being made to bring RSU 10 policy language into alignment with a federal court ruling issued Jan. 9, 2025, that vacated portions of the 2024 Title IX regulatory changes, and with updated sample policies distributed by the Maine School Board Association, board members said.

Policy committee chair Allison (policy committee chair and board member) told the board that the revisions respond to the court ruling and to new state laws and that the policies “do not govern the use of bathroom facilities or participation in sports.” She urged board members to “focus our conversation tonight on the actual policies and changes in front of you.”

The meeting included several motions to amend the policies to remove all references to gender identity. Board member Darcy moved to strike gender identity from AC, and later moved similar amendments to ACAA and ACAB. Those amendment motions were seconded but failed to pass. Board member Kristen repeatedly pressed for clarity about particular deleted language (she asked why “age” and “genetic information” were struck from AC) and requested further legal explanation before subsequent readings.

Several board members and public commenters urged caution. Darcy asked the board to seek a second legal opinion, saying she had consulted outside attorneys and raised concerns about conflicts between Title IX and the Maine Human Rights Act. Board member Lisonbee criticized attempts to frame the issue as a political wedge and urged the board to adopt policies that “enable us to follow state and federal laws.”

After debate, the board voted to approve first readings of all three policies. The votes were voice votes recorded as carried; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the minutes. The approved motions let the district move the documents toward a second reading where additional clarifying information can be provided.

Board members repeatedly stressed that these policy votes follow legal guidance, not political preference. “We’re not an activist board that’s trying to change the law,” board member Chad said. “We’re just enacting the policy that the law tells us to.”

The discussion prompted public comment and emotional statements from community members and students earlier in the meeting. Several residents and students addressed Title IX and protections for transgender and gender-nonconforming students during public comment, and board members acknowledged the community concern in their debate.

The board’s clerk and legal counsel will provide requested clarifications — including the rationale for specific deletions or edits referenced in the new text — before the second reading. Board members asked that the policy committee or legal counsel submit written explanations about the relationship between the draft language, Title IX, and the Maine Human Rights Act prior to final adoption.

The board will return the revised policies for a second reading at a later meeting after those clarifications are circulated.