Transgender issues back on the CCSD board agenda

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

A controversial topic is coming before the Clark County School District (CCSD) Board of Trustees once again at a meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 22 in Las Vegas. It is the divisive topic of gender diversity, now being applied loosely to curriculum. And a few local parents and school officials are concerned that very few people in the general public even know that it is happening.

Hidden in the consent agenda of Thursday’s board meeting is a proposed amendment that would significantly change an obscure CCSD policy dealing with the selection of all instructional materials and curriculum used in the classroom.

Policy 6150 currently states that the selection of materials must be consistent with state and district standards and shall be selected by CCSD staff “consistent with the financial resources of the District.”

But the proposed amendment adds another layer to curriculum selection. It adds that the materials and curriculum must also be selected “in a manner inclusive and responsive to the diversity of persons without discrimination…on the ground of race, color, creed/religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or age…”

This is language that local education advocates have heard before.

“That is the exact same mantra from public accommodations law that they have been using again and again to further a political agenda,” said Mesquite resident Jodi Thornley who has been serving the past few years on the CCSD Sex Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), a body which reviews all sex education curriculum proposed for CCSD use. “Only now it isn’t just about access to facilities, it is about curriculum. And aren’t talking just health and sex-ed curriculum either. This opens up all curriculum to this agenda, no matter what the subject.”

The language came up before in an extended battle between the district and many parents over transgender access to facilities. In August of 2018, the Trustees voted to approve a policy that solidified the district’s process in dealing with the rights and needs of gender diverse students. The policy was passed using elements in state law that ensured “equal enjoyment of public accommodations.”

The final approval of the policy took place after multiple public input meetings over a period of months; many of which stretched late into the night; where parents turned out in force to oppose the policy. A majority of parents had expressed repeated concern about elements in the policy which would allow transgender students to use either locker room or restroom at school, in accordance with their gender preference. Similar accommodations could be made with transgender students attending overnight field trips.

In the end, the trustees went ahead and passed the policy over the parent objections on a 4-3 vote.
But assurances were given that the CCSD would not use this policy as a wedge to begin applying it to matters of curriculum. Trustees assured the public at the time that the district was not making plans to teach gender diversity in the classroom through curriculum. Rather the policy would only provide equity, and respect the needs of all students.

Logandale resident Syrissa Jolley, who now serves as Chairwoman of the Mack Lyon Middle School School Organizational Team (SOT), remembers sitting in those long meetings. She also recalls the assurances that were given.

“I guess it comes as no surprise, but it is really a betrayal,” Jolley said. “Here we are only a couple of years later and they are using the same language to alter curriculum. And it is not just sex-ed curriculum, but the entire curriculum.”

Jolley added that the significance of the timing and manner of presentation of this agenda item had not escaped notice either.

“They know how the parents feel about this,” Jolley said. “Parents from all across the district made it clear to them that we were overwhelmingly against it. But now, just at a moment when we have all been focused on trying to get kids back to school full time, the CCSD starts pushing these different agendas around and trying to bring gender identity up again. It is strategic. They are trying to slide it under the rug while we are just trying to get back things to normal.”

Jolley expressed frustration that the issue (listed on Thursday’s agenda as Item #3.23) was placed on the consent agenda of the meeting. That is because the consent agenda is often used to summarily pass routine business matters at the beginning of the meeting without the need for any further discussion.

“This is not transparent at all!” Jolley said. “After all of that battle on this same issue before, they are rushing it through without even an opportunity for discussion. I mean, this Thursday they are voting on this! Meanwhile everyone is so exhausted with COVID, and there is limited access to make comments. It feels like they are taking advantage to push an agenda during hard times while people are occupied with other things.”

Mack Lyon principal Ken Paul said that he is concerned that the new language may move toward a more centralized process of selecting learning materials.

“First of all it seems to be limiting the idea of autonomous school precincts in favor of a more centralized approach,” Paul said. “It doesn’t seem to allow my school much flexibility to align with the community’s and parents’ voice. It just lumps everyone into the ‘diversity’ movement. That circumvents the proper way to change or modify educational law.”

Paul argues that the proper way would be to go to the legislature and change the law in the open.
““The big question is whether this policy is reflective of the greater community of parents out there; and then whether that community has been adequately informed of what is going on with this change,” Paul said. “Does everyone really know what is happening here? It is a question of transparency.”

Jolley said that the SOT is encouraging local parents to get up to speed quickly and become engaged in letting the trustees know their wishes on this issue.

This can include emailing Trustee Katie Williams, who represents the communities of northeastern Clark County on the board. Williams can be reached by email by going to http://ccsd.net/trustees/contact/williams.

“She needs to know that we want that item pulled off of the consent agenda so that it can be discussed in the open as it should,” Jolley said.

Members of the public can also make comments at the beginning of Thursday’s meeting which will be held at 5 pm at the Las Vegas Academy of Arts Lowden Theater at 875 E. Clark Ave. in downtown Las Vegas.

Those wishing to make comments in person may sign up to speak by calling the board office at 702-799-1072. Speakers may also sign up in person prior to the meeting.

To submit a voice recorded comment call 702-799-1166 to leave the message.

Email written public comments may be submitted at boardmtgcomments@nv.ccsd.net.