Changes to school district parent policy approved in 4-2 vote

Misgendering students approved

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Douglas County school board passed changes to the district’s parent engagement policy, which will now allow misgendering of trans or nonbinary students and sta by prohibiting “compelled speech” in schools.

e policy changes passed on a 4-2 vote, with board members David Ray and Susan Meek dissenting.

School board President Mike Peterson drafted the changes to the parent engagement policy, which were rst discussed on April 25 and then voted on during the June 20 meeting.

Peterson added statements to the policy that recognize parents rights, prohibits compelled speech, requires disclosure of student information and honors decisions to optout of some curriculum or activities.

e suggested changes and the process to adopt the changes raised concerns for board members David Ray and Susan Meek.

Meek speci cally asked about the intent of language ensuring students won’t be “compelled to share personal information or make statements about themselves, or regarding others, that con ict with their deeply held personal beliefs or circumstances.”

Meek pressed Peterson to say whether the policy would allow misgendering under this clause and he con rmed it would.

Misgendering is when a per- to addres another individual. For example not using they/them when a person asks for those pronouns speci cally.

“I would interpret that in this case that students would not be compelled to use the word him (for a trans male student), but they would still be required to treat that student with respect,” Peterson said. Meek questioned how respect could be maintained in that situation.

“If other students refuse to use their pronouns or intentionally misgender, that is a form of harassment, which, not only is it wrong, but we would be opening ourselves up to litigation,” she said. “We have heard over and over from our com- homophobic slurs in the classroom and racial slurs and other forms of bullying. So I would ask us to think deeply about the language that we are using so that we are respecting and honoring all of the students in our classrooms.” e board delayed voting on the policy changes on May 23 to get feedback from the District Accountability Committee, or DAC. committee requested more time to deliver that feedback, but a majority of the board members were ready to move forward with voting on the changes without the committee’s input.

Colorado law bans discrimination on the basis of gender or gender identity in places of public accomodation, including schools, according to the Colorado Department of Education.

Meek also asked why Peterson included language about disclosing information related to a student’s identity to their parents. Peterson said the intent is to prevent the district from keeping information on how a student identi es from their parents.

“We cannot have any policy or any guidance in this district that encourages deception,” he said.

Peterson argued the changes aren’t political, but are aimed at restoring trust with parents.

“ e one paragraph insertion I put in the policy is not for conservative parents, it’s not for liberal parents, it’s not for libertarian parents or those in the middle - it is independent of identity,” he said.

In addition to Peterson’s changes, the policy will also be updated to match the 2021 National Standards for Family-School Partnerships from the National Parent Teacher Association.

Beyond the substance of the policy changes, Meek and Ray expressed frustration with the process the board was taking to approve the changes.

“While I respect the DAC’s request for more time, I personally feel like there has been enough time for them to know this has been a board item and that we were going to vote on it,” board member Kaylee Winegar said. “We actually delayed it last time for their comments and recommendations and they haven’t provided that.”

Board member Christy Williams agreed, noting the committee can still review the policy in the future.

“I suggested earlier that we put (the parent engagement policy) onto their next year’s agenda and then come back again, and I think that certainly gives them an entire year (to discuss),” she said.

Members of the District Accountability Committee told the board during public comment they were disappointed with the decision to ignore their request for more time.

“I don’t understand how you can do a parent engagement policy and the parents that stand up to volunteer their time for this district get ignored,” Julie Gooden, a District Accountability Committee member, said.

In a statement, the Douglas County Federation, the union representing local teachers, said it’s a teacher’s job to create a safe and welcoming classroom for all students.

“Our district is no place for deeply held beliefs that result in disregarding or shaming any student,” the statement said.