Cold Spring Harbor board to draft letter opposing removal of 'adverse effect' clause in mixed-competition proposal; agrees to several NYS resolutions

At its reorganizational meeting the Cold Spring Harbor Central School District Board of Education signaled it will send advocacy letters opposing a Board of Regents regulation change that would eliminate the "adverse effect" clause for mixed-competition sports and discussed a packet of resolutions for the New York State School Board Association.

Board members said the removal of the adverse-effect clause could allow biological males to participate in girls’ sports in ways that may reduce opportunities, scholarships and safety for female athletes. "We feel that it's not safe for the girls," one trustee said, urging the board to oppose the change. Athletic staff noted the issue is particularly acute for sports that are not offered for both sexes (for example, field hockey or some gymnastics programs) and pointed to flag football as a recent flashpoint that motivated proposed regulatory changes.

Trustees agreed to draft and circulate a letter opposing elimination of the adverse-effect clause and to rely on existing letters from statewide athletics groups as background. The board also reviewed seven resolutions from the state school boards association packet, including proposals to advocate for a cap on BOCES budget increases, to support an upstate foundation aid formula, to oppose mandates for comprehensive K–12 gender curriculum, and to oppose mandated adoption of Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations; the board discussed a resolution seeking repeal of the law that removed the religious/moral exemption to immunization and recorded mixed feelings among trustees about that item.

Board President Alex asked that trustee Heather draft the advocacy letter; trustees said they will circulate edits before submission. No formal roll-call vote on the letter wording was recorded in the public transcript; members indicated consensus to move forward with advocacy at the state level and to send a representative to the state association meeting to register the district's positions where appropriate.

The board’s discussion made clear members can propose edits to the state resolutions' language before the district’s representative casts any votes, and the policy committee will return recommended wording for the board’s review if needed.