Marlboro BOE abolishes Policy 5756 on transgender students after heated public comments and board discussion

The Marlboro Township Board of Education voted to abolish Policy 5756, the district's policy on transgender students, during its regular meeting on Feb. 25, 2025, after a round of public comments and discussion among board members.

Board members said the decision followed public feedback and committee review. The vote followed a broader policy package that included a first reading of Policy 5512 (harassment, intimidation or bullying) and a second reading of Policy 8420 (emergency and crisis situations). The roll call recorded approval of the three policy items; board leadership announced that Policy 5756 is abolished.

Why it matters: the abolition of a district policy governing transgender students drew sustained public comment from residents and alumni and prompted questions about how policy drafts and redlines are shared with board members before meetings. For families and staff, the change affects how the district documents procedures for handling gender-identity questions in school operations and may prompt requests for guidance about compliance with state civil-rights statutes.

Public comment and board discussion: Several members of the public urged the board to abolish Policy 5756 and to prioritize residents' input. Sarah Bono, a Marlboro resident and graduate of the district, told the board that she supported abolishing the policy and asked that the district "end the conversation" and ensure residents have a voice. Dan Bono, another resident, criticized nonresidents speaking at board meetings and urged board members to respond when they believe speakers are inaccurate. Other speakers urged care for transgender students and warned that legal protections under New Jersey anti-discrimination law remain in force.

Board members also debated internal procedure. Multiple board members asked why policy changes had not been distributed earlier or shown in standard redline markup; Policy Committee Chair Aditi Gandhi said changes had been marked but not always shown in red and that committee materials were shared in the "green notes" folder. Several trustees asked staff to return to the board with clearer distribution plans so members can review policy drafts ahead of votes.

Outcome and next steps: The board president called the roll and confirmed approval of the policies; he then said that Policy 5756 had been abolished. Board members thanked the public for input; the district's attorney and administration will likely advise on operational steps and compliance with state law following the action. No additional procedural actions or policy replacements for 5756 were adopted at the meeting.

Board members did not claim in-meeting legal guidance beyond the record; transcript speakers noted that anti-discrimination protections under state law remain in place.

Taper: The board moved on to other business including routine minutes, personnel items and budget discussions; members said any further policy work will follow established committee review and be shared with the board when available.