Sudbury School Committee votes 3-2 against referring Gender Identity and Inclusivity policy to counsel

The Sudbury School Committee on June 16 declined to refer a proposed Gender Identity and Inclusivity policy to counsel, voting 3-2 after a brief discussion about the timing of legal review and staff input.

Chair Karyn Jones moved to have counsel review the proposed policy (which the packet described as an edited version of Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidance); Betsy Sues seconded the motion. Committee members asked questions about when legal review would occur and whether staff had been consulted before referring the policy for counsel review. The motion failed on a roll-call vote: Jessica McCready, Mandy Sim and Nicole Burnard voted no; Karyn Jones and Betsy Sues voted yes.

Committee members said they wanted more time for staff input and for committee-level drafting in open session before advancing the policy. The packet included a “Draft Policy on Gender Identity and Inclusivity” and related DESE guidance materials for Massachusetts public schools. The committee did not adopt any policy language at the meeting; the motion considered only whether to send the draft for counsel review.

The committee may revisit the policy at a future meeting after further drafting and staff consultation. The packet listed supporting documents, including the draft policy and DESE guidance.

Next steps: the policy was not referred to counsel on June 16; the committee indicated additional work and discussion would be needed before the committee advances a policy for legal review or final vote.