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Freeport meeting draws dozens of public comments on transgender students and girls' sports
Summary
More than 35 people from RSU 5 communities addressed the board during public comment, with speakers sharply divided over district Title IX policy, transgender participation in girls' sports, and proposed budget cuts affecting student supports.
Dozens of residents and students filled the Freeport High School cafeteria on Wednesday to urge the RSU 5 Board of Directors either to uphold district protections for transgender and gender‑expansive students or to revert policies they say threaten fairness in girls’ athletics.
Speakers from multiple Freeport sending communities gave passionate, often emotional testimony before the board: some urged continuation of the district’s October 2023 policy that protects gender‑expansive students, while others asked the board to rescind rules that allow males to compete in girls’ sports.
Student testimony and mental‑health concerns: The board’s student representative,Phoebe, described student mental‑health worries and said "the number 1 priority should be the students' well‑being and all students' well‑being." Students and parents including Amelia Connolly and Nikki Connolly said public scrutiny and national attention have inflicted harm on young people; Amelia told the board she could not imagine being ridiculed "by an entire country" for how she identifies.
Arguments from both sides: Supporters of the district’s protections — including State Representative Melanie Sachs and several teachers and parents — urged the board to maintain policies aligned with Maine law and federal precedent. Sachs told the board the policy aligns with the Maine Human Rights Act and urged the board to “continue to follow the thorough, thoughtful policies you and our community adopted.”
Speakers opposing the current Title IX interpretation criticized allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports and repeatedly cited concerns about safety, fairness and college recruiting opportunities. Janice Flynn said Title IX was “created to protect opportunities for females” and urged the board to enforce it in RSU 5. Several speakers cited the Maine Principals Association’s guidance and called for the district to seek changes at that level.
A number of speakers also raised separate but related concerns about the district budget, proposed staffing cuts and volunteer policies. Teachers and staff at Freeport Middle School warned that reductions to a seventh‑grade science post, ed‑tech hours and RTI staffing would harm students who are academically or socially vulnerable.
Tone and turnout: Board members thanked students for speaking publicly. The meeting included heated exchanges among audience members, and moderators briefly recessed the meeting to restore order; the board resumed and continued with its agenda.
What happens next: Board members said they will hear additional budget presentations and deliberate policy changes; the board later voted to revert several Title IX–related policies (see separate coverage).
