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Lakewood board vows to protect students amid new state and federal measures
Summary
Board President Katzenberger read a district statement saying Lakewood City Schools will work with counsel to interpret newly enacted state bills and federal orders that could affect transgender students, U.S. history instruction, DEI programs and use of federal education funding.
President Katzenberger read a statement at the start of the Feb. 3 Lakewood Board of Education meeting saying the district will monitor recently enacted Ohio laws and federal executive actions and will work with legal counsel to determine what schools must do.
The statement said the Ohio Legislature and Gov. Mike DeWine “have passed a number of bills that have the potential to affect our students' well‑being” and listed categories of concern, including measures that “seek to affect our transgender students, possibly remove some students from school for religious instruction, and more.” The board also cited federal orders that it said could threaten federal education funding and influence policies on history instruction and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
The statement, read by Board President Katzenberger, said local control has been “a bedrock principle of public education in Ohio” and that Lakewood “has been a place of acceptance for everyone.” Katzenberger said the board and administration will “work together and with the advice of counsel to interpret these state and federal measures as they are issued and to determine what actions they actually require schools to take.” She added the district may issue a board resolution regarding some or all of the measures “if necessary and applicable.”
Vice President Shaughnessy and several board members voiced agreement with Katzenberger’s emphasis on vigilance. Shaughnessy urged the community to stay aware of developments and warned of potential broad impacts if the Department of Education were dissolved, listing programs that could be affected including special education, Title programs, Head Start and free-and‑reduced‑price lunch.
Several board members framed the statement as a commitment to protect student safety and dignity while noting that legal challenges and the timing of enforcement may determine how schools must respond. The district said it will continue to update families and staff as it learns more.
The board did not adopt a formal resolution during the Feb. 3 meeting; Katzenberger said a resolution could be issued in the coming weeks if warranted.
