RSU 24 board rejects bid to rescind October transgender policy, votes to hire outside lawyers

The RSU 24 school board on Dec. 9 rejected a motion to rescind a resolution the board adopted Oct. 7 that restricts transgender students’ access to certain bathrooms and athletic teams, and later voted to retain outside attorneys to defend the district against a complaint from the Maine Human Rights Commission.

The vote to rescind the October resolution failed after an extended public‑comment period in which dozens of residents spoke. Supporters of rescission urged the board to follow federal nondiscrimination standards and protect transgender students; opponents called for upholding the earlier decision to protect girls’ spaces and for the board to resist state pressure. After the failed rescind motion, the board approved a motion to hire outside counsel named during the meeting, including Jack Baldachi and attorneys associated with the firms and trial teams the board discussed, to represent RSU 24 in the pending legal matter.

Why it matters: The decision keeps in place the board’s October policy and moves the district toward direct legal defense rather than retreat. Board members framed the choice as weighing potential legal and financial exposure against student welfare and community expectations. Several speakers warned that prolonged litigation would divert scarce local tax dollars from classrooms; others said the board had a duty to protect girls’ sports and single‑sex privacy under federal Title IX.

Board discussion and vote: During board debate several members said they opposed using tax dollars to fight the case and preferred spending on facility changes (for example, more private stalls) or waiting for courts to settle the law. One board member noted that courts and legislatures — not school boards — determine the contours of federal law, while others said the board must act now to protect students. When the rescind motion came to a vote, the board chair announced the motion was opposed and said the October resolution remained in effect.

Public comment: The meeting opened a 90‑minute public‑comment period with a three‑minute limit per speaker. Citizens who asked the board to rescind the resolution included Tammy Taylor, who said, “The safety and inclusion of every single student, especially the most vulnerable trans students,” and Matias Kamine, who warned of legal and financial consequences if districts adopt bans. Speakers urging the board to keep its October vote included Stacy White and multiple local pastors and parents who raised concerns about fairness in girls’ sports and privacy in locker rooms.

Legal next steps: After the failed rescind motion the board added and passed a motion to retain outside counsel to handle the district’s defense in litigation related to the Maine Human Rights Commission action. The board named attorneys during the meeting and approved retaining them to begin work "at earliest possible convenience," according to board remarks. The exact fee arrangements, scope of representation and any retainer amounts were not specified during the meeting.

What was not resolved: The record at the meeting did not include a roll‑call tally listing each board member’s vote by name, nor did it specify contract terms or estimated legal costs. Several speakers cited data or legal interpretations (Title IX, Executive Order 14201, Maine Human Rights Act) in support of opposing positions; those claims were disputed in public comment and not resolved at the table. The board indicated it would proceed to defend the district in court.

The board adjourned after brief remarks thanking speakers and noting school events and fundraising successes.