West Milford board hears hours of testimony on GSA; approves education items after executive session

The West Milford Township Board of Education on the evening of the meeting heard extended public comment focused on the high school Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA), then returned from executive session and approved agenda items 2 and 4 under education.

Dozens of current students, alumni, parents, teachers and residents told the board the GSA provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ students and their allies and cited research and personal experience saying that the club reduces harassment and improves student well-being. "The GSA offers a safe space to students who are in need," said student Danny Gravel, a district high-school student. "It is not just an important club, it's an essential one." Tina Signorelli, an English teacher and longtime GSA advisor, told trustees the club's mission is "simply to provide a safe space for students," and recounted notes from former students who said the group saved lives.

Several community members linked research to the testimony. "Students in schools with GSAs are less likely to hear homophobic remarks and less likely to feel unsafe," said one speaker citing published studies. Melissa Pritchett, a parent and teacher, noted federal and state legal context, including the Equal Access Act and New Jersey learning standards, and urged the board to respect students' rights to form extracurricular clubs.

Some speakers directly challenged comments a board member made at an earlier meeting that several residents said incorrectly linked the GSA to unrelated past misconduct. "Implying that any past or present grooming of students is somehow related to the GSA club is a false and slanderous claim," Wendy Becker, a resident and district social worker, read from an emailed statement.

A trustee who had been the focus of public criticism addressed the audience during the extended public-comment period. He said his prior remarks stemmed from concerns about adult misconduct in youth settings and not from an intent to target advisors, and told the room he would vote in favor of the item after hearing testimony. "I was never a student that had struggles like that," the trustee said as he explained his earlier position; "I will vote yes on this."

After roughly 30 to 60 minutes of public comment and later an executive session, the education chair, Missus Lockwood, moved to approve agenda items 2 and 4 under education; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call. The board also authorized a settlement in a litigation matter after returning from executive session.

The meeting included other routine business: approval of minutes from prior meetings, operations-and-finance items (including discussion of bus leases and purchasing), an update about reviving a local education foundation, and recognition of departing staff members. The board announced a follow-up foundation meeting scheduled for August 16 and reminded residents that petitions to run for board seats are due July 31.

The board did not adopt any additional public-policy changes during the meeting; trustees who asked for further information about curriculum items (including digital curriculum companions mentioned earlier in the agenda) requested more detail in committee meetings before final action.