Stanly School Board Sets New Policy, Procedure for Student Gender Pronouns – The Stanly News & Press

At the June Board of Education meeting, the Stanly County Schools policy regarding student gender pronouns was adopted.

The board approved by a 6-1 vote an update to its policy on notifying parents about students who wish to change their gender pronouns or identification.

The new policy states that parents will be notified of “changes in services or monitoring related to their children’s mental, emotional or physical health or well-being… In addition, the principal or designee must notify parents before making any changes to the names or pronouns used to refer to them children in school records or by school staff.”

Dustin Lisk, who voted against the policy update, said parental notification is required by the North Carolina General Statutes. He said the board “is being forced to vote” on policy additions.

Lisk said the previous student questionnaire policy did not include notification to parents, adding that the changes are a “step in the right direction” for parents’ rights.

Board Chairwoman Carla Poplin said school systems can change local notification procedures but do not have the authority to “change the wording of the general statute.”

Board member Glenda Gibson said, as explained by Lynn Plummer, SCS’s chief academic officer, “we have procedures in place if something were to happen.” She said principals have copies of the state’s Parents’ Bill of Rights and other documents to address the issue.

Poplin said principals now have a “series of meetings and discussions” as part of their procedure in case a child decides to change gender pronouns.

Under the new policy, “teaching about gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality will not be included in the curriculum for children in kindergarten through fourth grade, regardless of whether this information is provided by school personnel or third parties.”