Aldine ISD employee tells board district quietly excluded gender-affirming care, urges reconsideration

Corey Bowers Holloway, an Aldine ISD employee for 17 years, told the board during public comment that the district has ‘‘silently and specifically excluded’’ gender-affirming health care from its employee plans and that the change was not communicated to staff.

Holloway said she had been working with Aetna and believed services were covered when she selected her plan, but recently learned the district’s plans now exclude that category of care. ‘‘This exclusion was never communicated in any way,’’ she said, adding that she now faces ‘‘an unexpected cost of over $10,000’’ for medically necessary care.

The employee said she picked her plan in good faith based on assurances and described contacting both Aldine ISD and Aetna only to be told a request would be ‘‘denied outright without conversation.’’ She quoted the district’s benefits guide to note the district ‘‘reserves the right to amend, suspend, or terminate any benefit plan in whole or in part at any time,’’ and characterized the choice as discretionary by the plan administrator.

Holloway said the decision has left her ‘‘incredibly difficult position emotionally, medically, and financially’’ and urged the board to reconsider the exclusion and ‘‘engage in open conversation with employees impacted by these choices.’’ She said several people she spoke with inside the district ‘‘didn't even understand what gender-affirming health care is,’’ raising concerns that the change may not have been fully considered.

The comment was delivered during the public-comment portion of the Oct. 21 meeting. The transcript records Holloway’s request that the board ‘‘revisit the current exclusion’’ and consider ‘‘who is left behind when decisions like this are made.’’ The board did not record a response or an on-the-spot motion to alter benefits during the meeting.

What happens next is unclear from the meeting record: Holloway asked for transparency and reconsideration, and urged the board to involve affected employees in further conversations.

Sources and context: Holloway referenced Aldine ISD’s benefits guide and said the change applies across Aldine plans. She also invoked ‘‘Title 7’’ in arguing for fairness and inclusion; the meeting transcript does not show additional legal citations or a staff presentation explaining the change.

The board’s next steps were not announced on the record at the meeting.