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Public commenters clash over JBP policy changes on names, pronouns and facilities
Summary
At the June 16 Newport News School Board meeting, several residents addressed a recent JBP policy revision that touches on student names/pronouns and facility access; speakers expressed both support for protections for LGBTQIA students and concern that the policy was changed without adequate public notice.
The Newport News School Board heard more than an hour of public comment June 16 focused on recent revisions to the JBP policy, with speakers sharply divided over language addressing student names, pronouns and access to single‑sex facilities.
Nancy Meadows told the board the policy language, which she quoted directly, "a plan may include addressing the student at school with their name and pronoun consistent with their gender identity while using the legal name and the pronoun associated with their *** assigned at birth when communicating with parents and guardians," encourages secrecy from parents and "appears to be encouraging schools and students to lie to their parents." She said the change effectively allows students to use facilities that "correspond with their gender identity" from kindergarten through 12th grade and warned the board that the policy "does more harm than good." (Comment by Nancy Meadows)
Other speakers underscored opposite views. Reverend Natalie Chamberlain thanked the board for its stand "to be sure that all the students in your district are being protected" and said members of her congregation will continue to attend meetings in support of LGBTQIA students. Adam Luring, who described biological and sociological distinctions between sex and gender, urged the board not to conflate the two and said, "I'm just very grateful that you all are trying to stand up for trans people in this community." (Comments by Reverend Natalie Chamberlain; Adam Luring)
Several commenters raised process and trust concerns. Gina Bowman, speaking on behalf of Adina Rivera, said the policy was changed in May and published in June "without a public vote" and that only those who supported the change were apparently informed before publication; she said the lack of notice threatens public trust and could accelerate enrollment declines among families who feel excluded from decision‑making. (Comment by Gina Bowman)
The public‑comment period also included pointed personal testimony about student safety and accountability. Kashanda White Mazzell described a series of incidents affecting her daughter and urged the board to review "actions and inactions of everyone" involved, asking that the district examine whether responsible employees should be removed; her sister Ivana Jones recounted ongoing concussion symptoms and expressed concern about inconsistent enforcement of rules. (Comments by Kashanda White Mazzell; Ivana Jones)
Board members did not take immediate action on the JBP policy during the meeting. The public comment exchange reflected both substantive disagreement over policy content and sharp concerns about the process by which the change was made.
