Trans Student Policy On Holmdel BOE Agenda

HOLMDEL, NJ — The Board of Education's Committee of the Whole will meet Wednesday to tackle the controversial Policy 5756 that offers students who identify as transgender certain protections.

Another issue concerns how the unused Nokia building, part of the privately owned Crawford Hill parcel the township has been considering for redevelopment, could be used in the future.

Board President Peter Reddy said Tuesday that this is a working meeting of the board and he did not expect action to be taken until the board's regular meeting next week.

Holmdel board members did not comment about the specifics of the meeting as it relates to Policy 5756, listing the matter only as "discussion," according to the agenda.

But it comes after a new wrinkle in the argument about "parental notification" regarding students who identify as transgender: The school board in Hanover just repealed the policy, arguing it isn't mandatory.

State Department of Education Policy 5756 offers guidance for school districts regarding transgender students, based on the Law Against Discrimination. Its purpose is to "help school and district administrators take steps to create an inclusive environment in which transgender and gender nonconforming students feel safe and supported, and to ensure that each school provides equal educational opportunities for all students," it says.

According to the state policy, "Communication with the student is paramount. Schools and school districts are encouraged to communicate openly, albeit confidentially, with students regarding their transgender status or gender identity. Proper communication with the student will ensure that appropriate steps are taken to determine a student’s preferences and address potential privacy concerns and associated risks to the student’s well-being."

But the issue of privacy and the notification to parents of a student's gender identity have come under the spotlight lately where a handful of districts have amended their policies to require parental notification in such cases as a student's wanting to be identified by a different pronoun, for example.

In response to a lawsuit by the state Attorney General, Middletown, Manalapan-Englishtown and Marlboro districts - as well as Hanover in Morris County - were all placed under a court injunction in August from implementing their amended policies.

But repealing the policy altogether, based on an interpretation that it is not mandated, was recently adopted by the Hanover board, according to a Patch article.

On Sept. 11, the Hanover Township school board voted to not implement the state's Policy 5756, since it is barred from amending it under the injunction. The members of the Hanover school board did this on the argument that the policy is not mandatory, its attorney said.

But now the Attorney General's office has sent a letter to the court in response to Hanover's actions, stating that the school board's resolution violates the temporary restraints the court put in place on Aug. 24.

Attorney General Platkin has argued the districts are putting transgender and LGBTQIA+ students at risk of harm from their parents, and violating their civil rights. The state previously cited data that 40 percent of transgender youth are not supported by their families, and 1 in 10 transgender children or teens are met with physical violence from their parents.

Crawford Hill "collaboration"

Board Vice President Terence Wall, a former Township Committee member, is bringing up for discussion his own concept of how the currently unused Nokia building could be transformed in the future as a specialized K-12 school.

The town and the owner of three lots at 791 Holmdel Road are currently in good faith negotiations on two of the lots. The area under negotiation includes the National Landmark Horn antenna, used in Nobel Prize-winning research about the origins of the universe.

The Nokia site, the third lot owned by Crawford Hill Holdings, was recommended by the Planning Board to be considered an area in need of redevelopment. The Township Committee has postponed a decision on that.

Wall has developed a concept, he said, for the acquisition and educational development of the Nokia site.

"As a lifelong resident, former three-term Township Committeeman and current member of the Board of Education, this project is very straightforward to me. I do not believe any further investment is required other than the straight acquisition in its current state and zoning for a valid and legal public purpose, that being a place of education," Wall said in a statement distributed to the media.

He noted that his views "are strictly my own as a citizen and don’t reflect the views of Holmdel Board of Education in any way."

He said he envisions a specialized K-12 school in the former research and lab building.

It would be a "complex process that requires careful planning and consideration," he said,

He offered an overview of a potential design, renovation costs, and 20 types of high-tech STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning activities that could be accommodated in the 50,000-square-foot space. These would include such things as a drone flight arena, a 3D printing lab and a hydroponics garden, among other concepts.

The site would include state-of-the-art STEAM classrooms; collaborative spaces; a library; an auditorium and administrative offices. There would be outdoor spaces for outdoor learning areas and recreational spaces. And there would be various infrastructure upgrades, he said.

Wall said the renovation costs for repurposing a research and lab building "can vary widely, but a rough estimate could be between $200 to $400 per square foot, totaling between $10 million to $20 million," he said.

He said the actual design and renovation costs "will depend on various factors such as building condition, desired features, and local construction rates. Consulting with architects, engineers, and education specialists is essential to create a detailed plan tailored to our specific needs and budget."

And he said he sees the funding process as one that would include discussions with companies such as Tesla, Google, Apple and Microsoft to determine which industries or companies would underwrite all or part of such a venture.

"With so much young talent and scientific history and worldwide significance, I think the line would be out the door," Wall said.

The matter is on the agenda for discussion on Wednesday as "Crawford Hill collaboration."

"My goal ultimately is to spur creative thinking from all stakeholders, so the most appropriate and lasting results can be situated at the site," Wall said.

The executive session begins at 6 p.m.; the public session normally begins at around 7 p.m.