The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board faced swift backlash from lawmakers in Raleigh following its decision to reject two key parts of North Carolina’s Parents’ Bill of Rights.
The board voted unanimously on Thursday to approve updated policies aligning with the law. However, it opted out of provisions requiring parental notification regarding student pronouns. It also allows classroom discussions on gender identity and sexuality in kindergarten through fourth-grade classrooms, defying the state’s ban on such topics in elementary schools.
The decision quickly drew ire from state legislators, with Republican Senate Majority Whip Jim Perry responding on social media X (previously Twitter) on Friday. The Kinston native mentioned he had conversed with “several colleagues” about the board’s decision.
https://twitter.com/JamesPerryNC/status/1748387388487762109
“I look forward to addressing this lawless behavior in the short session. This presents a great opportunity to see where others stand on law and order,” Perry wrote in an X post.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro board acknowledged the potential legal repercussions of their defiance. However, board chairman George Griffin said, “My sense is that we do need to stand up and show people that somebody has the courage to say this is just morally wrong, and we’re not going to do it this way.”
Following a query from The News & Observer of Raleigh about the senator’s social media post, Griffin reiterated the school board’s focus on student well-being. Griffin maintained that while he is hoping to avoid butting heads with legislators, the board was “clear-eyed” on the decision and will hold its ground against potential repercussions, including legal challenges.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Graig Meyer of Orange County said he is proud of the district’s decision. As a former social worker in the district, he believes the law should be contested in court.
“As I told my General Assembly colleagues in the debate of the bill, if I were back as a social worker in [the district] and I had to decide between caring for a student and your stupid law, I would choose the student every single time,” Meyer said.
Impact of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law
North Carolina’s Parents’ Bill of Rights mandates various parental involvement initiatives in schools. Educators must inform parents about student name or pronoun changes, while instruction on gender identity and sexuality is forbidden in younger grades.
According to the law, parents can review and object to school materials, control their child’s participation in sensitive surveys as well as file grievances with established timelines and appeal processes.
The state legislature enacted the Parents’ Bill of Rights last August despite a veto attempt by Gov. Roy Cooper. The law, nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” law, drew criticism for potentially marginalizing LGBTQ students and their supportive teachers.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board has been vocal in its opposition to the law since its passage last year. It initially considered draft policy updates in November but requested further revisions.
The board has undertaken a comprehensive policy review process, considering both suggestions from the N.C. School Board Association and additional changes to their parental involvement policy. The review also included revisions to other policies, ensuring compliance with state requirements in instructional materials, health education and student conduct.
The decision received strong backing from the district’s heavily Democratic community, with most emails and public comments expressing support.
Meanwhile, the N.C. Board of Education has established a process for handling grievances related to the Parents’ Bill of Rights, offering an appeals route for parents after attempting resolution at the school or district level.
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