May 27, 2021 at 2:18 p.m.
School board tables gender equity policy
School board tables gender equity policy
By Jamie Taylor and Heather Schaefer-
After hearing from an attorney regarding the developing law with respect to gender identity and pupil non-discrimination, as well as a number of statements from parents and concerned citizens urging a pause, the motion to table passed on a 7-1 vote.
The discussion began with Maggie Peterson, the district's director of learning support, explaining why the administrative team brought the gender equity policy forward.
In the fall of 2019, the learning support team began to see an increase in students identifying as gender questioning and parents requesting support, she said. After researching various gender equity policies, the administrative team drafted a policy for Rhinelander, however the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it from making its way to the school board.
Peterson also cited the Youth Risk Behavior Survey which showed that 37 percent LGBTQ and/or gender nonconforming students reported feeling uncomfortable in the local school environment due to harassment based on their gender and/or sexual identity.
Earlier this year, the draft policy was reviewed by the district's operations and strategic planning committee where it generated a number of questions. Ultimately, the committee tabled the topic.
Following attorney Mary Strebig's presentation on the evolving law with respect to gender equity as well as the history of non-discrimination protection, the board opened the floor to public comment at which time parents and community members asked the board to table the policy for the time being.
One mother suggested all students need to be taught to love themselves.
"I can identify as a tall, skinny person, it doesn't make me a tall, skinny person," she said. "I'm still short and fat, but I have to love myself the way I am. We should be focusing more on teaching these kids to love themselves instead of changing our language..."
Another speaker, who identified herself as the mother of several daughters, expressed concern about the "damage done to our girls by boys who call themselves girls coming in and taking over their positions on sports events, taking away their safe spaces in bathrooms and locker rooms."
Andy Loduha, who serves as chairman of the Republican Party of Oneida County, called the policy "ridiculous" and claimed that "China is laughing at us" because it ranks higher in math scores than the U.S.
He also asked the board to focus on more important things like getting rid of the mask mandate, arguing that "kids don't get sick from COVID." He also urged them not to introduce the controversial 1619 Project or critical race theory. (Neither of those topics was on the agenda for discussion.)
Other speakers urged the board to embrace "local control" as opposed to mandates from the state or federal government while others asked thorny questions such as whether a gender equity policy would lead to mandates involving the use of pronouns. Among the questions were: what happens if someone accidentally uses the wrong pronoun and who determines whether the use of a particular pronoun constitutes bullying?
One parent also wanted to know if a student could play a boys sports and then three days later ask to play a girls sport. (Later in the meeting, superintendent Eric Burke indicated this is a non-issue due to WIAA rules).
When the discussion shifted to the school board, member Ron Lueneburg asked Peterson to clarify the survey statistics.
"When we talk about 37 percent of LGBTQ students how many are we talking about roughly?" he asked.
Peterson said she was "unprepared to give a fixed number" and noted that she "wouldn't report a really low number in such a large group because it could be identifying."
"I don't understand how a mathematical statistic can be personally identifying," Lueneburg responded.
Peterson responded that the "numbers are very small" and "if a number is small, 5 or less, than saying that number could be identifying."
Board member Merlin Van Buren voiced strong support for the policy. He read a statement he said was crafted with the assistance of his pastor.
"Things are not fine for trans students in Rhinelander," he said. "Rhinelander is a great place for kids to grow up. But the data collected in the 2019 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicate a clear need for LGBTQ kids to receive special support. The YRBS shows that only 37 percent of RHS LGBTQ students feel like they belong in school, compared to 63 percent for cisgender (person who identifies as their birth-assigned gender) heterosexual students. A whopping 91 percent of LGBTQ percent students have experienced bullying and other abuse. This puts these students at risk of suicide and self-harm. If this was the experience of students with another unique identity we would not let it stand. If nine out 10 left-handed students were experiencing bullying we would easily see that the abuse they were experiencing was unfair and would offer special attention to the needs of our southpaw students. Why should it be any different for the kids that are trans? A person's gender identity is just as tied to nature as the hand they use to write with."
"It's time to tell our LGBTQ students that not only are they accepted in our Rhinelander schools, but they are wanted and are an important part of our schools and our community," he added.
Board member David Holperin noted that the district has policies regarding harassment, discrimination and bullying and asked whether those policies are in some way deficient.
"I think so and I don't think so and I'll tell you why I'm saying yes and no to your question," Peterson responded, before explaining that the existing policies are "reactive" and she feels strongly that the survey data shows a need for a proactive policy.
She also referred to the policy as a "a roadmap for staff" to provide assistance to students in turmoil and noted that the current policies provide guidelines as to what do when there's been a complaint lodged and she views this policy as "what are we going to do on behalf of these students to avoid the complaint."
As the discussion continued, board members brought up other considerations including the concept of parental rights and the notion that these matters are best handled in the home rather than in the schools.
Van Buren again reiterated his concern for the safety of bullied students.
"Tabling just sweeps dirt under the rug, this is an issue in our schools we need to deal with," he said. "Yes, most of our students are just fine but are we going ignore the few that are being bullied and potentially suicidal in our schools?"
Others pushed back, arguing that the board was not prepared to implement such a policy without further study. It was also suggested that the administration can and should provide support to students within the district's existing policies.
Van Buren was the only member to vote against the motion to table.
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