Rockland County school district gets input from state education leaders on gender expression policy
It has been five months since the school board moved forward with this equal opportunity policy.
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New York state education leaders are reaffirming a controversial policy that allows students to use restrooms and locker rooms based on their gender expression. That reaffirmation from the state is the center of a special school board meeting Thursday night with the Clarkstown Central School District.
It has been five months since the school board moved forward with this equal opportunity policy. That policy allows students and faculty to use restrooms and locker rooms based on their gender expression.
Since then, some community members have expressed concerns on the validity of the state law behind the policy and its impact on other students.
Due to those questions, the district's superintendent requested a formal opinion of counsel from New York state's Education Department. That feedback came May 14.
It ruled that students can use the facilities that align with their gender based on New York's Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act.
Two board members did not attend the special meeting. Those two members originally opposed how the school district adopted the policy.
One of those members tells News 12, they wanted to attend the meeting but couldn't because of a prior engagement they had to attend. They say they supports transgender rights, but they want the district to create their own policy that better reflects the community of the district.
No vote or change is scheduled for the district's policy. This was an information session and a chance to answer parents' questions at the state level.
