D86 Board Members Suggest Transgender Policy, State of the District Address

District 86 board members who attended the Annual Scariano, Petrarca and Himes School Law Seminar came to their colleagues Monday night at with suggestions from the seminar that included discussing a policy specifically regarding transgender students.

Kay Gallo said at the board's Committee of the Whole meeting that she could not find such policy currently in place in the district, though there are several general policies regarding bullying and sexual issues. Gallo said it could be beneficial for the administration to provide a report to the board on current practices and procedures regarding transgender students.

“I would rather be proactive than reactive with sensitive issues like this,” Gallo said. “I thought it would be best to at least make sure that a discussion is being done at the school level if it has not already been.”

Jennifer Planson, who along with DeeDee Gorgol also attended the school law seminar, liked the idea of District 86 having an annual State of the District presentation, similar to one done by nearby Butler School District 53.

The superintendent, board president, and teachers’ union president all speak in the Butler presentation, Planson said.

“It gave an overview of the state of the district financially, academically, what’s going on with curriculum, student population, the whole gamut,” Planson said.

A State of the District address would be a good way to communicate directly with community members who do not have children in the district and who get most of their info on the district from local media, Planson said..