RSU 52 board sends student privacy, sports policies to committee after heated public comment

The RSU 52/MSAD 52 school board voted to refer policies affecting student privacy, competitive sports and private spaces to its policy committee for review and possible amendment to align with Title IX and to consider sex-based privacy options for bathrooms and locker rooms.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment in which dozens of residents, parents, students and community members urged opposing outcomes: many speakers pressed the board to adopt a resolution they said would protect girls’ private spaces and competitive opportunities, while others, including local LGBTQ+ residents and recent graduates, warned that policy changes could discriminate against transgender students and increase harm. The board’s motion, made by Ashley Michu and seconded by Alex Cutter, directed the superintendent to send “policies related to students and competitive sports and private spaces” to the policy committee for amendment “to align with Title IX by recognizing sex distinctions in competitive sports and to ensure sex-based privacy options for private spaces such as, but not limited to, bathrooms and…