Controversial MSBSD policy changes bring out people from all sides during latest school board meeting

During the Wednesday evening meeting of the Matanuska Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) School Board, changes to several controversial school policies were passed as expected.

Residents representing all sides took to the dais to speak, hoping to sway the school board before the board voted to make several changes. Some invoked religion when speaking in support of the changes.

Robert Stanley, a pastor, spoke in support of the changes, saying, “While the proposed changes are a step in the right direction, I take issue with them. It shouldn’t be necessary to provide notice before an activity or class with consent with content involving gender identity, etc., because it simply should not be any content on gender identity, or anything related to it, other than the fact that we have boys and girls and men and women. These are permanent and non-changeable. The same stands for pronouns.”

Opponents to the revisions argued that public schools should be for the public, therefore should be inclusive to all.

Retired MSBSD teacher Jean Troske said that while she used to love teaching, she feels horrible for the teachers right now.

“A public school system serves all children-tall, short, Black, white, whatever ethnicity, whatever gender they live by-that’s who you are here to serve.” She then told the board “This is a public school system. If you want a private school system, resign from the board and create a private school system.”

Troske said that this is especially personal to her as she is the mother of a trans child. “I fear for our children right now…I would never admit that or say that as a teacher in the district.” She, too, invoked religion, saying that Jesus’s most important lesson was to love one’s neighbors.

“All our neighbors. He didn’t say the ones that look like us and sound like us and act like us. This is a public school system. You have no business messing with gender identity.” She went on to say that she worries the cost the district will incur once discrimination lawsuits begin.

Revisions to the board policy included changes to school counseling program, moving from the previous policy that said ‘school counseling program shall serve students' diverse needs and shall encourage productive learning experiences’ to an academic counseling program only.

Also changed in the school counseling program is that ‘staff shall help secondary students to plan for the future, become aware of their career potential, and develop realistic perceptions of work.

The school board removed the phrase ‘without regard to gender,’ when it comes to developing realistic perceptions of work.

A teacher who spoke out against this change, Lori Sims, said that perhaps some of the people behind the proposed changes had no experience with children who attempted suicide twice.

“One child of mine has” she told the board, who looked unmoved. “I don’t think they have any understanding that we do need counselors in the school that can counsel. You cannot learn academics at any level unless you have a safe mental space. And if you take that safe mental space away from our children and from the ability to talk to these counselors, then you are denying them the ability to learn as well.”

Sims went on to tell the board that when she told her children of the proposed changes to the counseling policy, her youngest said ‘that’s going to cause more deaths in schools.’

“If you take away our counselors that can counsel, that will cause more deaths. (My) child said that he had also gone to the counselor when he was depressed, and said the counselor helped him.” She said that demand for counselors in the Mat-Su Valley is huge, and that the ones who are qualified are not enough to go around. She also added that with the insurance changes in the imposed teacher contracts, she will not be able to afford similar services for her children, if the need were to arise.

Another policy that the board revised addressed the parent notification process, stating that any there must be at least 2 weeks notification to parents before any activity, class, or program that includes content involving gender identity, human reproduction, or sexual matter is provided to a child.

Additionally, the parents must provide written permission for the child to participate in the activity, class, or program. Any material related to sex education, human reproduction education, or human sexuality education must have school board approval and be available for parental review to be used as part of the curriculum.

A third policy change that drew criticism is the policy that requires parent permission before changing the name or pronoun used by a student at school.

John Leto said that he fully supports the policy changes and believes they will allow a return to the fundamentals of education.

“There are plenty of revisions in the board policy changes proposed in order for parents to be involved. In the event that parents are angry or hostile to their children, we have social services and they would be the best (to help). And we have health services that should be dealing with these issues of gender affirmation.”

Meanwhile, a retiring educator took time to speak out against the gender pronoun revision.

“I am saddened to see the direction our district is going,” said Jenny Foyer, a teacher who is planning to retire after 19 years of service to MSBSD.

“I am retiring because I can no longer work for a district that actively criminalizes trans and LGBTQ+ students, staff, and community members,” Foyer said tearfully.

“I can no longer work for a district that will be putting LGBTQ lives at risk by requiring parental permission before pronouns can be changed. We have youth in the Valley that have been kicked out of their homes for coming out to their parents. Sometimes, teachers are the only safe person these people have.”

She then reminded the board that LGBTQ students and people exist, adding a throwback tagline “We’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not going anywhere.”

Foyer then announced that she plans to run for the MSBSD school board and will be advocating for LGBTQ students and staff.

Other policies that passed include:

BP 4035- In the Codes of Ethics, the school board kept in place that district employees are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards, follow district policies and regulations, and abide by state and national laws. The board removed the section pertaining to district employees accepting the codes of ethics published by the professional associations to which they might belong, and said that those within the teaching profession are obligated to follow ethics set forth by the Professional Teaching Practices Commission.

BP 4055 - Added the definition of activism for the political activities of employees, forbidding school district employees from participating in any activism for controversial topics while on the job.

Except for a policy revision related to school board self-evaluation, all of the revisions passed 6-1, with only board member Ted Swanson voting against the set of changes.

Another issue that has already fired up both sides is a proposed revision to the policies regarding libraries and media centers, which seeks, in part, to remove libraries as safe spaces that provide “equitable, inclusive, and personalized access to curated relevant digital and printed material.”

“Limiting information has historically never helped solve an issue…arguably having all the information available is more helpful than it is harmful,” said KristenJohnson.

“How does access and availability to information have anything to do with indoctrination of children?” she asked, before reminding the board that children have more access to an online world where there is an unlimited amount of material available to them anytime.

“Wouldn’t we rather have kids in a public library with an adult, a teacher who is able to talk with them about those things that are in those books?” Johnson conceded that there are certain materials that might not be appropriate to elementary students, and instead in a more appropriate section, and asked if there was a way to compromise so that there are actual books for kids, for humans, to be able to see what is out there.

There is also a section in the revisions that states libraries will support academic needs of the community, removing ‘artistic and recreational needs’

Troske told the board that she deeply resents what they are trying to do to the libraries within the school district.

“I cannot fathom that you would take a line out that says ‘a library is a safe place,’” said Troske, warning that this could set the MSBSD up for liability issues later.

“Will each of you be liable for what happens when one of these places aren’t safe, and you’ve said it shouldn’t be a safe place?”

The revisions to the library and media centers was read into record and is expected to be discussed at later school board meetings.

Pat Chesbro, a retired teacher who also served as MSBSD Superintendent, urged the school board to be mindful of the decisions they make, asking the members to consider how the decisions reflect the MSBSD missions and beliefs.

“You have these goals to improve student success. Of course we want that. We want to develop wonderful educators, we want to have good schools, and we want them to be safe. We want them to be healthy for everyone. Please think of all of those things when you make decisions about policy,” she said.

“This makes a huge difference to the children of this school district…I urge you, if you really care about the success for all students, then consider all students.”

The next MSBSD school board meeting is scheduled for June 21 at 6 p.m.