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Public sharply divided over Policy 57-56 at Galloway Township school board meeting
Summary
Dozens of residents addressed the board about Policy 57-56, with some speakers denouncing it as a threat to parental rights and others defending it as a safety and welfare policy for vulnerable students; remarks included allegations, counters, and calls for decorum.
A lengthy public-comment period at the Galloway Township Public School District board meeting on March 17 focused on Policy 57-56, a district policy the transcript connects to New Jersey Department of Education guidance on creating inclusive environments. The comments revealed sharply divided community views and at times heated exchanges in the audience.
Jean Marie Mason (identified in the record as attending from Ocean City) said she supports the district and criticized disruptive behavior at a recent Ocean City board meeting, telling the Galloway board that "professionalism and decorum is required at every school board meeting." In contrast, Father Jim Hutchins said the policy "denies parents their rights" and argued that schools should not be the place to inform children about gender identity without parental knowledge.
Other speakers pressed the board with questions about protocols, including whether puberty blockers, surgeries, or on-site counseling were part of district practice — points the board said had been addressed in prior discussions. Kelly Grace, a long-time resident, and Gary Hermanau challenged whether the policy undermines parental authority; Hermanau asked board members whether they "believe that a boy can become a girl," language used in a rhetorical line of questioning during his comments.
Community defenders of the policy included AJ Mass, who noted the small share of students likely to be transgender in a 3,200-student district and argued protections are aimed at a very small number of vulnerable students. Mass said the policy allows staff to treat disclosures on a case-by-case basis and not to inform parents if doing so would place the student at risk, and he described parental rights as important but secondary to child welfare in cases of potential harm.
Speakers on both sides made factual claims and raised questions. Several speakers characterized prior meetings as chaotic and suggested stronger meeting decorum or security; others said the policy merely extends existing student-safety practices to transgender students and referenced other district and state policies that govern student welfare and mandatory reporting.
The board did not take an immediate policy vote at this meeting; members repeatedly said questions about personnel, litigation or student-specific matters should be addressed outside public comment. The public-comment exchange closed and the board moved to executive session for personnel matters.
Representative quotes: "Professionalism and decorum is required at every school board meeting," Jean Marie Mason said. "You do not love children if you lie to them by saying there are more than two genders," Father Jim Hutchins said. "A child's welfare comes first," AJ Mass said, summarizing the rationale for keeping some disclosures confidential when necessary.
The meeting record shows the policy discussion remains a live issue for the community; board members and administrators may address policy language and parental-notification protocols at future meetings or in policy sessions.
