Committee updates transgender/nonbinary student policy language, forwards draft and asks staff to add employee protections

The Policy Advisory Committee reviewed the district’s transgender/nonbinary student policy and voted to forward an edited draft to the School Committee while asking staff to add language that explicitly protects employees.

Members said recent state guidance and a February attorney general opinion require changing references in the policy: the committee agreed to remove references to Title IX and federal guidance where those references are no longer controlling, retain state guidance citations, and add the relevant state regulation citation. Committee discussion focused heavily on the sections governing physical education and athletics: the proposed language permits students to participate in physical education classes and intramural programs "consistent with their gender identity" and explains that the district will follow the current Rhode Island rules for interscholastic athletics; some members asked that the policy reflect district‑level decisionmaking rather than leaving eligibility determinations solely to individual principals.

Committee members also asked staff to incorporate employee protections into the policy, noting federal Title VII protections for employees apply; members agreed Andrew and another committee member would work together to draft a short paragraph clarifying that the policy’s intent extends to staff and that employees are protected under applicable federal and state laws. A motion to forward the policy with the discussed edits was seconded and approved by voice vote; committee members said any further employee‑protection language could be added as an amendment at School Committee review.