New transgender policy introduced

The Sparta Township Board of Education voted 4-3 to introduce a new policy on transgender students at its meeting Nov. 16.

Voting in favor were Lauren Collier, Christina Keiling, Walter Knapp and Leigh McMichael. Craig Palleschi, Wendy Selander and Vanessa Serrano voted no.

Board president Kurt Morris and member LeeAnne Pitzer were absent from the meeting.

At its Oct. 19 meeting, the board voted 4-2 to abolish the district’s policy on transgender students. Voting yes were Knapp, McMichael, Pitzer and Morris. Voting no were Collier and Selander. Keiling, Palleschi and Serrano were absent from that meeting.

In a statement from Morris read during the Nov. 16 meeting, he said the board was concerned that the abolished policy said the district had no duty to notify parents about a student’s gender identity or expression.

Sparta’s action came after at least five other districts rescinded similar policies. Four others have adopted policies that require parental notification. The attorney general’s office has sued those four districts, so their policies have not been implemented.

“Given that these issues are currently being litigated statewide, many of us were concerned with amending the old policy. However, after listening to administration, staff, parent and student concerns, we also agreed that it is better to have a policy on the books than to not have a policy at all,” Morris’ statement said.

The board’s policy committee researched the issue and found that it liked the one used by the Kittatinny Regional School District with some modifications.

The policy introduced Nov. 16 says the district will consider on a case-by-case basis when students do not want their parents to be notified of their transgender status. To be considered are factors such as age, grade level and maturity of the student, the statement said.

”However, the general presumption shall be in favor of parental/guardian notification and involvement.”

Before parents or guardians are notified of a student’s transition, school staff must consider the health, well-being and safety of the transitioning student, the policy says.

Ensuring protections

Palleschi, who voted against introduction of the new policy, said he wants to ensure that transgender students have strong protections from abuse from parents who might not be ready to deal with the issue.

”I also want to make sure that as a board our messages, we’re being consistent in that we’re, there’s some policies that we’ve changed because we think the parents should be parenting at home. And then we have other policies that we’re changing because we’re saying, ‘Well, we need to tell the parents. We need to keep them informed about their kids,’ “ he said.

Selander said she favored tabling the vote on the proposed policy so the board could take time to clarify it. “I want to make sure we put in what is right and best the first time. ... I don’t think there’s any rush.”

During public comments, several residents asked the board to table the proposed policy.

Kaitlin Gagnon, who was elected to the board Nov. 7, objected to the proposed policy as too specific in areas that should be vague and too vague in areas that should be specific.

“I believe you’re setting our teachers, counselors and staff up for failure when you vaguely ask of them to strike a balance. ... You’re relying on subjective terms to rewrite a policy that was working in place for many years.”

Resident Frank Sanchez said the policy should be determined next year when the three candidates elected Nov. 7 have been sworn in.

Along with Gagnon, Jennifer “Lonsky” Grana and Chad Wood won seats on the board. Pitzer and Keiling lost their bids for re-election.

On another matter, the board voted to table a proposed policy titled “Honoring Student Achievement,” which would change how students qualify for honor rolls at the middle and high schools.

Preschool program

Superintendent Matthew Beck said parents of students selected from the district’s waiting list have been notified that their children may enroll in the free preschool program at Helen Morgan School starting Jan. 2.

District officials also have met with local preschool providers that may host two more classes there at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

Beck said the district’s architect is working on several proposals for the Alpine School property and on a list of possible upgrades at all district schools for possible inclusion in a referendum.

The company that did a demographic study in 2021 has been asked to update that study so the district has updated enrollment projections, he noted.

He pointed out that Sparta Middle School STEM teacher Christine Collister is retiring, effective Dec. 31, after 16 years with the district.

Among the accomplishments that the superintendent announced:

• Sparta Middle School was designated as a Best Middle School by U.S. News & World Report. The high school previously was designated as a Best High School by that magazine.

• Sparta High School has been recognized as a national AP Honor Roll school at the silver level. Only 9 percent of eligible schools in the United States and Canada earned that level of recognition.

• The Sparta High School Marching Spartans won the Group 2 Open Region 10 Championships for a third year in a row. The open class is the top competitive bracket for the highest-achieving bands.

• Sparta High School teacher William Brennan, along with Kean University, received a grant of nearly $1,000 from the Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation. The money will be used to purchase textbooks to enhance his class.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.