RSU 04 board votes to remove Policy JB on transgender and gender‑expansive students after heated public comment and debate

The Regional School Unit 04 school board voted to remove Policy JB, “Transgender and Gender‑Expansive Students,” after extensive public comment and a long board discussion about parental rights, student privacy, and legal risk.

The policy’s removal followed public testimony urging the board to eliminate the policy and sustained debate among board members over whether the protections in JB duplicate existing nondiscrimination and student‑privacy policies. Joel Farrow, a Wales resident who addressed the board during public comment, told members the U.S. Constitution and court precedent protect parents’ rights and urged removal: “The U.S. Constitution … gives complete autonomy to the family specifically, not the state,” he said.

Board members debated both process and substance. Christy, chair of the policy committee, moved an amendment to send JB back to the policy committee for revision; that amendment required a two‑thirds vote and did not pass. Supporters of removal argued the district already has nondiscrimination, harassment and student‑records policies that cover protections for all students without a separate JB. Opponents said staff and students rely on a dedicated policy and recommended a rework of the language with legal guidance and input from administrators, counselors and the district attorney. Board member Scott said the current wording raises constitutional and implementation questions and that most protections exist in other policies; board member Diane urged retaining a policy to help staff navigate sensitive situations.

Speakers on both sides raised federal and state legal concerns. Board members referenced Title IX, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and the U.S. Supreme Court’s due‑process precedents in describing potential legal exposure and parental‑rights implications. Matt (board member) and others told colleagues that removing the policy would not remove students’ protections under existing district policies addressing nondiscrimination, harassment and bullying.

After the vote the board clerk recorded the result as an approval of removal. Several board members later said they had abstained because they wanted the policy reworked by committee and preferred more legal review. The board did not adopt replacement language at the meeting; members said the policy committee and administration may return with revised language or options at a future meeting.

The board’s discussion included repeated references to process: several members argued policies should regularly be vetted and revised in the policy committee before final board action, while others argued immediate removal would avoid exposing the district to conflicting legal obligations. Members and administration said the policy committee will continue to be a locus for future work on this topic.

The board spent substantial time on the item; public comment and trustee discussion together ran more than an hour. The board chair closed public comment and called for the formal vote after debate. No changes to other district policies were made during the session.