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Edison board rejects motion to abolish transgender-student guidance after hours of testimony
Summary
After more than three hours of public comment — largely from students, clinicians and parents urging retention — the Edison Township Board of Education voted down a motion to abolish Policy 5756, the district’s transgender-student guidance. The motion failed on a 6–3 roll call.
The Edison Township Board of Education on Oct. 29 declined to abolish Policy 5756, the district guidance on transgender students, after an extended public-comment session in which dozens of residents, students and clinicians urged the board to keep the policy in place.
The motion to abolish Policy 5756 was made by Vice President Joe Romano and seconded by Douglas Schneider. In a roll-call vote the board recorded three yes votes (Anjana Patel, Vishal Patel and Shannon Peng) and six no votes (Douglas Lugo, Brian Rivera, Douglas Schneider, Virginia White, Joe Romano and President Bridal Patel). The motion failed.
Supporters of the policy filled the meeting and took the microphone in turn during the dedicated public-comment period. Gayatri Mathur, a 17-year-old senior, described her experience as a lesbian and said the district should “ensure we set a positive example…
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