1. Would you support a policy that requires all HCPSS schools to allow transgender students to use restrooms and changing facilities based on their identified gender? Please explain your answer.
On October 8, 2018, Dr. Kevin Gilbert, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, issued “Guidelines for Supporting Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students,” which states that each student has access to a restroom and a locker room in accordance with the student’s gender identity.
Before making a decision about a policy, I would ask Dr. Gilbert to provide an update on the guidelines, how they have been applied in our schools, and if changes need to be made, what he suggests those changes might be. If he has not engaged with students and staff in the LGBTQ community about their experience with the guidelines, I would direct the superintendent to require that he do so. The most important thing for the Board to do is to hear from those who are directly impacted by HCPSS guidelines and Board policies before further action is taken.
2. Would you support a policy that requires HCPSS staff and non-official documents to use the name and pronouns that a student requests? Please explain your answer.
On October 8, 2018, Dr. Kevin Gilbert, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, issued “Guidelines for Supporting Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students,” which states that a student has the right to be addressed by a name and pronoun that corresponds to the student’s gender identity.
Before making a decision about a policy, I would ask Dr. Gilbert to provide an update on the guidelines, how they have been applied in our schools, and if changes need to be made, what he suggests those changes might be. If he has not engaged with students and staff in the LGBTQ community about their experience with the guidelines, I would direct the superintendent to require that he do so. The most important thing for the Board to do is to hear from those who are directly impacted by HCPSS guidelines and Board policies before further action is taken.
3. To what age groups (if any) is it appropriate for teachers and other staff members to disclose to students that they have LGBTQ family members or are involved in a same-sex relationship?
I believe that only in limited circumstances is the personal life of any teacher or staff member the business of their students.
4. Should curriculum be revised to include reference to LGBTQ individuals, including the fact or possibility that the individuals were LGBTQ identified. If yes, what (if any) is the minimum grade level at which these changes should be made? Please explain your answer.
Our students need to see themselves in our curriculum, however, before curriculum changes are made we should seek input from our curriculum experts regarding what curriculum is appropriate and for what age/level of student before making decisions.
5. Would you like to see LGBTQ themed works of literature, art, and media be introduced into the curriculum, and if yes, what (if any) is the minimum grade level at which this should be done? Please explain your answer.
It would depend on the individual works of literature, art, and media and whether or not they are age appropriate. Experts should create curriculum that is age appropriate, train staff to deliver the curriculum and do so in a way that is respectful. One way to reduce incidents of bullying is for students to have awareness of all groups reflected in our schools.
6. How should the school system provide more education to parents/guardians with regard to understanding and supporting LGBTQ youth? How should HCPSS reach out to parents/guardians who are unsupportive of their children’s LGBTQ identities?
The school system should continue to partner with organizations, such as PFLAG Columbia-Howard County, which has experience and expertise in providing supports to LGBTQ youth and their parents.
The relationship between students and their parents/guardians can be complicated. The school system has to manage the balance between respecting the rights of parents and assisting students who do not have parent/guardian support of their LGBTQ identities. Having staff with the appropriate mental health training as a resource to our students would provide additional support.
7. What accommodations should be made for transgender students participating in athletics organized by the school system? Which policies should be revised to reflect these accommodations?
On October 8, 2018, Dr. Kevin Gilbert, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, issued “Guidelines for Supporting Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students,” which states transgender students can participate on the interscholastic athletics team of the student’s birth gender, participate on interscholastic athletics teams of the gender that the student has transitioned to (this may be supported by medical documentation (hormonal therapy, sexual reassignment surgery, counseling, etc.) confirming transition of gender), and may compete on the interscholastic team of the gender the student identifies with, as recognized by the local school system and established in official school system records (this may differ from the student’s gender listed in school system records).
Before making a decision about a policy, I would ask Dr. Gilbert to provide an update on the guidelines, how they have been applied in our schools, and if changes need to be made, what he suggests those changes might be. If he has not engaged with students and staff in the LGBTQ community about their experience with the guidelines, I would direct the superintendent to require that he do so. The most important thing for the Board to do is to hear from those who are directly impacted by HCPSS guidelines and Board policies before further action is taken.
8. Should HCPSS make sure schools offer access to LGBTQ student clubs like GSAs to their students? At what levels (High? Middle? Elementary?) should this happen? Please explain your answer.
All of our 12 high schools have a club that is dedicated to creating a safe space for anyone of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their allies.
At the elementary and middle school levels, clubs are not offered as they are the high school level. The first step would be to review the reasons for the current practice at the elementary and middle school levels and determine if changes should be made.
9. What changes would you like to see made to the way HCPSS handles identification, reporting, interventions, and prevention of bullying?
As with all policies, we need to do a better job to determine if Policy 1060 – Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation is effective. We have to establish ways in which we can measure the implementation of the policy, the impact of the policy at each individual school, and how we make appropriate changes based on the data collected, best practices, and the impact on students involved in bullying incidents.
The current implementation of policy and procedures is not consistent across schools. There are too many incidents of parents and students not being told that there is a formal process for reporting bullying. We need to be vigilant in training school-based staff on bullying procedures. We do not have the ability to eliminate bullying, but we do have the ability to consistently handle and track how it is being addressed in all of our schools and do what we can to reduce incidents, including looking at what mental health supports are in schools and how they can be used. We should use the data we collect to determine if specific student groups, such as LGBTQ students, are being bullied and provide the appropriate interventions. An effective anti-bullying policy addresses bullying in a way that supports all students involved.
10. What measures should the school system take to prevent suicide among the student body?
Unfortunately, we’ve had students at all levels attempt and commit suicide. For example, the role of social media has increased opportunities for students to bully each other. Grace’s Law (enacted in 2013 and strengthened in 2018 ) was named after Grace McComas, a Howard County student who took her life in 2012, after being attacked online. Grace’s Law makes the misuse of internet-based communications with the intent to intimidate or harass a minor, a criminal offense. We have to continue to educate our students about Grace’s Law so that they know there is a way to protect themselves from this type of harassment.
We have to provide training to our staff /educators on the unique issues different student groups face, how to recognize if students are struggling and approach and assist in a way that appropriately supports the student. Students will confide in each other about concerns they are having, and we should provide guidance to students as to how they can best help a friend who is at risk for suicide. We need to focus on providing supports to groups of students who have a higher incidence of suicide, such as LGBTQ students, and look to other organizations for best practices, such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.