Resident challenges Chariho Title IX and transgender guidance; district officials say claims are inaccurate

At the Aug. 19 Chariho Regional School Committee meeting, a Westerly resident urged the committee to rescind transgender guidance and change the district Title IX policy, asserting recent federal rulings required the district to revert to earlier 1970s-era interpretations.

The speaker, Robert Caradillo, told trustees that the district’s Title IX policy and transgender guidance violate federal law and should be stricken. He told the committee the district was "in the crosshairs of the U.S. Department of Justice" and urged trustees to bring policy into compliance immediately.

Trustees and district counsel responded in public session. Counsel told the committee that several factual claims in the speaker’s remarks were incorrect, including characterizations about recent federal rulemaking and the district’s prior interactions with RIDE. Counsel said the Chariho policy had previously been reviewed at the state level and that assertions made by the speaker were "simply not true." The chair and trustees said they would consider whether to refer Title IX policy or the transgender guidance to the policy subcommittee for review; a trustee asked for a legal review vote if the committee wishes counsel to provide an opinion.

Ending: District counsel and the superintendent advised trustees to request a formal legal opinion or place the item on the policy subcommittee agenda if they want a formal, written review. Trustees did not adopt emergency policy changes at the meeting.