Residents urge board to rescind or reconsider Policy 5756 during public comment

Public comment at the Edison Township Board of Education caucus centered heavily on New Jersey Policy 5756 — the state model policy on supporting transgender and gender‑nonconforming students — as residents urged the board to reconsider or rescind the district’s adoption.

Anthony Mara, who identified himself from a local address, told the board the policy "allows a student to change his gender" and argued such changes cause severe harms and long‑term regret, citing suicide‑rate statistics and a high‑school sports injury highlighted in a video he shared with board members. "Changing gender will do serious harm to that student's reproductive organs," he said, and later asked the board to abolish the policy and replace it with what he described as a "common sense policy."

Gail Lance, who said she lives in East Brunswick, also urged the board to rescind Policy 5756. She framed her argument around parental rights and potential legal risk, contending the policy can undermine parental notification and raise privacy concerns in shared facilities like restrooms and locker rooms. "This policy undermines parental rights by not requiring parental consent or notification regarding a student's gender identity or expression," she said.

Other members of the public and board members noted that Policy 5756 is an optional state model policy intended to protect students and that existing anti‑bullying and harassment policies remain in force. The transcript shows no vote or directive on Policy 5756 during the caucus; administration and the board deferred detailed policy discussion and possible action to future agenda items.

The board did not take formal action on the policy at the caucus meeting; the public‑comment portion concluded and the board moved to other agenda business and later to confidential session.