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Residents Press Board to Rescind or Amend Policy 5756; Parents Say Policy Keeps Them in the Dark
Summary
Dozens of public commenters urged the Sayreville Board of Education to rescind or change Policy 5756, saying it permits schools to withhold information from parents about students' asserted gender identity; board members and staff said the policy follows state guidance and that no local incidents requiring secrecy have been recorded.
Dozens of residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to press the Sayreville Board of Education to rescind or change district Policy 5756, which governs how schools respond when students assert a gender identity different from their birth sex.
Teresa Focarelli, a Sayreville resident and grandparent, summarized the policy’s state-level lineage and said the district is not legally required to adopt the Department of Education’s 2018 guidance verbatim. “A district is however free to develop its own policy on this issue,” she said, urging the board to revisit its approach.
Other speakers described the policy as a source of secrecy between schools and families. “This policy instructs schools to keep gender identity changes and other personal matters secret from parents,” said Lillian Rivera of Monroe Township, adding that secrecy creates “emotional strain and isolation” for children. Joe Campania said many residents did not know about board meetings and urged the district to improve outreach while opposing Policy 5756’s provisions that, he said, allow staff not to notify parents.
Board members and administrators responded with procedural clarifications and context. Superintendent Rick Labbe said staff follow state guidance and district procedures and that, to his knowledge, the district has not created any “second files” for students under this policy. When asked directly, he stated: “None, none to my knowledge.”
Board members noted tensions between the district’s parental-rights policy and Policy 5756. Commenters cited other local boards that have repealed or amended similar policies and referenced court decisions and FERPA (the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) in arguing that parents retain rights to student records.
The meeting record shows no formal change to Policy 5756 was proposed or adopted at the June 16 session. Several speakers urged the board to return the item for formal consideration; board members said the topic has been debated at multiple prior meetings and that further dialogue could continue at a retreat or future agenda.
The board did not vote on Policy 5756 at the meeting. The next procedural step mentioned by members was continued internal discussion; several residents asked the board to place the policy on a future agenda for formal action.
