School teachers and counselors may not discuss gender identity with students without parental consent under a new rule being considered by the Francis Howell School Board.
The board is considering nine new proposals, including regulations on library materials, political campaigning, and parent challenges to educational materials.
Some teachers have criticized the proposals, stating they would complicate their teaching. The board will review each proposal at its meeting on Thursday.
The proposed regulation on gender discussions would deem conversations about gender identity or non-assigned gender inappropriate without prior consultation with a parent or guardian.
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Becky Hormuth, an elementary school teacher at Francis Howell and a parent of a transgender student, expressed dismay over the policy, stating it would politicize a sensitive topic. She expressed concern over all the proposals on the agenda for Thursday.
Another proposal would allow residents and parents of Francis Howell to challenge educational resources. The superintendent would appoint a review committee to assess challenges, with the board making the final decision based on the committee’s recommendation.
Additionally, employees would be prohibited from displaying materials related to partisan, political, or social policy issues without approval from district administrators.
Furthermore, the board will consider a policy requiring approval for all library material purchases, with a restriction on materials containing explicit descriptions of sexual conduct.
Five other proposed policies cover grading, board committees, appropriate work behavior, and other related issues.
Debates on classroom materials and cultural issues are not new to the Francis Howell School District, with recent controversies over bathroom usage, curriculum changes, and educational video platforms.
The board members are now facing scrutiny over multiple new proposals simultaneously.
The proposed policy on electioneering has raised concerns among teachers, as it would restrict campaigning at school facilities on days other than election day.
Critics view this policy as an attempt to prevent a repeat of the April election outcome, where right-leaning candidates were defeated in favor of neutral candidates.
Interested parties can find all the proposals on the school district’s website.
Beth O’Malley
