The School Administrative District 52 Board of Directors debated proposed changes to policy JIE, “Pregnant Students,” during its regular meeting; the board voted down the proposed second reading and then voted to return the policy to the policy subcommittee for revision and further legal review.

Board Chair Jamie Johnson opened the policy item as a second-reading approval request for policy JIE. The board engaged in an extended discussion about a sentence that addresses the Title IX coordinator’s role in conversations with a student who has not told their parents that she is pregnant. Several board members pressed on whether the policy language should say the coordinator “can discuss” versus “will/must discuss” with the student how to inform parents, and how Maine law and Title IX obligations limit the district’s authority.

The issue at the center of debate was a single underlined sentence approved by the committee and reviewed by legal counsel. Multiple board members raised concerns that changing “can” to “will” would create an absolute requirement that could conflict with Maine law and with circumstances in which notifying parents may be unsafe. One member summarized the legal constraint this way: “We cannot require that the Title IX coordinator tell the student they have to tell their parents. We cannot require that. That’s against Maine State law.” (statement made on the record during the policy discussion).

After discussion the board voted on the second reading of the policy as drafted. The second-reading motion, moved by Brie and seconded by Crystal, failed by roll call: 3 in favor, 5 opposed, 1 abstention. Following that vote, a separate motion was approved to send policy JIE back to the policy subcommittee for further consideration of the wording about the Title IX coordinator’s conversation with students and for additional review by legal counsel. The send-back motion carried (board vote recorded in the meeting as 6 in favor, 3 opposed).

Why it matters: the policy governs district procedures when a student reports a pregnancy and touches on parental notification rights, the Title IX coordinator’s duties, and legal limits under Maine law and federal guidance. Board members said they wanted clearer, legally vetted wording that protects student safety and the district’s compliance obligations before adopting final language.

Next steps: the board directed the policy subcommittee to revisit the specific sentence on the Title IX coordinator’s conversation with students and to consult legal counsel about alternatives that preserve student safety and respect Maine statutory limits. The revised policy will return to the board for further consideration.