Transgender Student Policy Replaced By Long Valley School Board

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A school policy regarding transgender students has been replaced in the Washington Township School District, as the rule itself previously sparked controversy across the state.

State Department of Education Policy 5756 made headlines this past year, raising questions as districts statewide are being sued by the state for trying to implement policies that require schools to inform parents if a child identifies as transgender.

The policy was originally characterized as mandated by the private policy-writing company, Strauss Esmay Associates.

But in a legal argument by the New Jersey Attorney General in a case involving the neighboring district of Hanover, statements were made that the policy was not mandatory.

This prepared the way for the policy's repeal, which some parents and school officials oppose since it limits notice to parents whose adolescents seek school counselors about their transgender or nonbinary identity.

Board member John Holly brought the topic up to his fellow board members during the Oct. 10 school board meeting, making a case for the repeal of the policy within the Washington Township district.

Since then, the district has debated over what an appropriate amendment to the school's current use of Policy 5756 would be.

During the Dec. 12 school board meeting, the board officially passed Policy 5145.7, Gender Identity and Expression, which serves as a replacement for Policy 5756. The motion was approved by all board members except Jill Mucerino, Cindy Ruggiero and John Holly, who was absent from the meeting.

The new policy, which was read in full at the Nov. 14 board meeting, is meant to proactively plan for a safe learning environment free of discrimination and harassment for students and parents/guardians of students with gender identity and expression concerns.

Mucerino, who voted against the policy, argued that since the policy had not been reviewed by the board's attorney, it would be better to table the second reading until the new year.

However, the board attorney, who was present at the school board meeting, stated that it is not required for the board to filter its rules through their office, implying that the board did not violate any past precedent by not having the board attorney examine it.

Board member Rob Waskis also mentioned that Policy 5145.7 was written by the New Jersey School Boards Association policy writing services, which serves as an alternative to Strauss Esmay Associates.

"The vast majority [of policies], which we approve on a routine basis without special consideration or review from our specific board attorneys. This is not substantially different, again, having been written by the group of lawyers in the employment of the NJSBA," Waskis said.

In a comment made by Ruggiero, she argued that the school board did not need to approve the policy, because it is not required by the state.

"We are here to educate our students. They are all going to have different challenges. It's the leadership of our school administrators that needs to take control and lead the school correctly, and that is what I don't think is being done right now," Ruggiero said.

District Superintendent Peter Turnamian said that while he would not involve himself in policymaking discussions, he wanted to speak out, calling Ruggiero's comments "inappropriate."

"We have strong administrators across all of our schools who are deeply dedicated to our schools, that includes in all our classrooms, all of our teachers are deeply dedicated. I feel like it's my responsibility to defend these administrators, who I know to be deeply dedicated and long-serving, talented individuals," Turnamian said.