Resident urges Pembroke committee to clarify gender-identity, privacy and parental-notification practices

Paige Graziano, a Pembroke resident and parent, used the committee’s public-comment period on Oct. 7 to ask the Pembroke School Committee to clarify district practices on gender identity, privacy and parental notification.

Graziano asked whether schools notify parents if a child changes name or pronouns during the school day or on school documents and whether restroom, locker-room assignments, and overnight rooming arrangements are made based on sex assigned at birth or gender identity. She also asked whether chaperone assignments for overnight trips are made based on sex or gender identity. "As parents, do we want to know, does our school allow male teachers, students, and other faculty to utilize bathrooms and locker rooms alongside female students based on gender identity?" Graziano asked.

Graziano cited statements from state officials and guidance documents during her remarks. She referenced an Attorney General statement and quoted what she described as applicable state law and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidance that, in her account, directs schools to use chosen names and pronouns and to provide restroom and locker-room access aligned with a student’s gender identity. She told the committee, "Parents won't find these answers in the student handbooks or the policy book for our school," and urged members to act as voices for parents at the Mass. Association of School Committee meeting in November.

Graziano also framed her remarks around parental rights and local representation. She identified two committee members who are up for reelection and urged voters to make their voices heard.

The committee did not take formal action during the public-comment period. No district policy change or administrative response is recorded in the meeting transcript on Oct. 7; the superintendent and staff later discussed other agenda items (such as the strategic-plan forum and forthcoming survey) during the same meeting.

Ending: The committee proceeded to agenda business after public comment; the transcript does not record a formal staff response to Graziano’s questions during the Oct. 7 meeting.