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Parents and community members urge Valley View board to affirm protections for transgender and nonbinary students; opponents also speak
Summary
Multiple speakers at the Feb. 12 Valley View CUSD 365U board meeting urged the board to make a public statement protecting transgender and nonbinary students; others opposed district policies on gender and DEI. Former equity director LaVar Ammons, parents and student ambassadors spoke during the audience participation period.
Several parents, a former district equity director and student ambassadors urged the Valley View CUSD 365U Board of Education on Feb. 12 to publicly affirm protections and support for transgender and nonbinary students, while other speakers expressed opposition to current diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.
"Tonight, I'm asking this board to make a clear and public statement, this commitment to protecting the rights and the rights and dignity of every student in our school district," said Jennifer Frederick, who identified herself as the parent of a junior at Bolingbrook High School. Frederick said her oldest child is nonbinary and that while most teachers were supportive, the family had experienced an unresolved issue with one teacher.
A second parent, who said their child Charlie is an eighth grader and transgender, described a generally positive experience at Jane Addams Middle School but said coaches continued to use incorrect pronouns in messaging: "As a whole, we've had a great experience at Jane Addams with staff and students, mostly affirming his gender... I was surprised this year that... a couple of coaches who kept misgendering Charlie in emails." The speaker asked the board to "please consider continuing, embracing, children, in our district, regardless of their race, their gender."
Former director of equity and continuous improvement Dr. LaVar J. Ammons, who said he now remains an engaged parent and community member, told the board the district's strategic plan is "grounded in equity" and that "equity is not dead." Ammons urged leaders to listen to students and called for further work to address disparities in discipline and outcomes.
Other speakers voiced opposition. Commenter Jim Fisher said, "DEI is the practice of lowering standards so that all students are equally dumb," and framed his remarks as a defense of girls' spaces. A later speaker, Suzanne Otto, identified as a resident and parent of a former district student, spoke in support of transgender students and asked the district to protect their rights.
Several speakers referenced recent federal executive orders and actions in other districts. Frederick noted that "several school districts across the country... have publicly affirmed their commitment to protecting all students regardless of their gender identity," naming Montgomery County (Md.), San Francisco Unified, Saint Paul Public Schools and Columbus City Schools as examples; she asked Valley View to issue a similar statement.
Board President Quigley responded during announcements by saying the district "treats everybody with respect and love, and we will continue to ensure that that is done to the best of our ability as long as I'm sitting here." The board did not take formal action on the requests during the meeting.
Speakers and student ambassadors underscored the topic's local salience: several parents and community members requested a clear public stance from the district, and a former district equity leader urged continued work to close disciplinary and outcome gaps.
