Cromwell Board issues statement on OCR Title IX probe, defers action on district transgender policy

The Cromwell Board of Education approved a statement and said it will not sign OCR's proposed resolution agreement as written and will defer further action on the district's transgender and gender nonconforming youth policy (identified in meeting materials as policy 514553). The board said it had asked OCR for an extension to review the proposed terms and said it would continue discussions with state agencies before changing district policy.

The board said the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened a directed investigation and notified Superintendent Dr. Macri on May 2, 2025, and that OCR identified compliance concerns on May 29, 2025 and issued a proposed resolution agreement that included a response deadline of June 5, 2025. The board's statement said the proposed agreement, as written, would require immediate withdrawal of Cromwell student athletes from CIAC-sponsored postseason events and contains terms the district believes conflict with Connecticut General Statute 10-153 and other legal interpretations the district is reviewing.

Why it matters: the board said the proposed OCR agreement could remove student athletes from upcoming state and regional competitions, and that signing an agreement with those requirements would raise statewide legal and policy implications. The board said it wants the state of Connecticut to coordinate a broader response so individual districts do not shoulder legal and financial burdens alone.

Details from the board's statement and discussion: - OCR notified the district on 05/02/2025; Cromwell responded that decisions to change policies must be made by the board and asked OCR for an extension on 05/30/2025; OCR had not granted an extension as of the meeting. - The board said OCR's proposed resolution agreement "would become effective immediately upon signing" and that OCR warned it could finalize findings and pursue enforcement, including referral to the U.S. Department of Justice, if the agreement was not signed. - The board wrote that parts of the proposed agreement "implicate issues far broader than the participation of transgender female athletes in athletic programs" and that "many of the terms are in direct conflict with state law, specifically Connecticut General Statute 10-153" (as cited in the board statement). - The board asked OCR to treat a refusal to sign the proposed agreement as not a refusal to engage in respectful negotiation and said Cromwell will continue collaborative discussions with federal and state agencies and seek leadership from state government.

Public comment at the meeting reflected concern from community members both for protecting transgender students and for reviewing federal demands carefully. Speakers during public comment included: - Kristen Basega, a resident, who said, "The policy you're considering appealing is not just about sports. It's a broad overarching policy about the rights of transgender students." She urged the board to uphold protections for privacy, names, pronouns and access to facilities and programs. - Shannon Hughes, a resident, who urged the board to act with "courage, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to the well-being of all of our students" and to center student voices while seeking legal guidance. - Jessica Lam, a resident, who thanked the board for keeping existing inclusion policies in place pending further information and said, "Please stay the course and continue to be a district that chooses inclusion over division and values over fear." - A Cromwell High School student who identified as gender-fluid, who said, "School is one of the only safe spaces where I can be myself and present myself as I am," and described mental-health risks if students are barred from facilities or teams.

The board moved to add the written statement about the OCR matter to the agenda, approved releasing it to families, and then voted to defer any further action on the transgender and gender nonconforming youth policy at this time. The motion to defer was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.

The board said it will continue to consult with counsel and state agencies including the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the CIAC, the Connecticut Attorney General's Office and the Governor's Office.

The board's statement and the decision to defer will be distributed to families, the board said; the district also said it will pursue state-level coordination on policy guidance.