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Cumberland School Committee rejects proposed changes to transgender/nonbinary policy after hours of public comment
Summary
After extensive public testimony, the Cumberland School Committee voted 5–2 to reject proposed amendments to Policy A7 (transgender and nonbinary reporting), opting to keep the existing privacy-based policy. Supporters said the amendment would force disclosures that risk student safety; opponents cited legal uncertainty.
The Cumberland School Committee voted 5–2 on July 16 to reject proposed amendments to Policy A7, the district’s transgender and nonbinary student reporting policy, after more than two hours of public comment and committee discussion. The motion to reject the amendments was made by Member Michelle Goldstein and seconded by Member Feather; Mr. Bacon and Mr. Dean voted against the motion.
Supporters of keeping the policy as written argued it protects vulnerable students. "There is power in a school system that creates space for students to learn and thrive," said Cameron Huey, a transgender Cumberland native and Beacon Charter board member, urging the committee to prioritize safety over hypothetical lawsuits. Several students, parents and clinicians described cases in which forced disclosure could lead to violence, homelessness or increased suicide risk.
Legal and advocacy witnesses urged caution. Jennifer Wood, director of the Rhode Island Center for Justice, told the committee the recent emergency orders in out‑of‑state litigation (Mirabelli v. Bonta) do not require Cumberland to change its policy and pointed to First Circuit decisions that support student‑first approaches.
Members who voted to reject the amendments cited ambiguity in recent federal rulings and concern that the proposed language would remove professional judgment from staff. "When there is not clarity, it is incumbent upon me to protect our most vulnerable students," Goldstein said during debate, adding that the committee had reread the recent decisions and remained uncertain about the law’s scope.
Those who supported the amendment stressed parental rights and said the district must ensure compliance with evolving court guidance. Member Dean raised objections about perceived limits on parental authority during debate.
The committee’s decision to reject the amendments preserves the current A7 policy language that allows staff discretion and confidentiality in many disclosures. The vote was followed by a short recess; no alternative amendments were adopted at the July 16 meeting. The committee will not implement any of the proposed A7 changes pending further legal clarification or future action.
