Facts Matter. Aside from the fact that the policy change is unlawful and a civil rights violation; the politically charged vote will cost Middletown resident thousands of dollars. NJ Sues Middletown, 2 Other Districts For Transgender Student Policies
“Our district’s financial situation has grown increasingly precarious. This year we were hit with a cut in state education funding: we lost nearly 7%, or about $1 million. And this cut comes on the heels of several years of even larger funding cuts.
We also incurred the new – and presumably continuing – expense of stationing police officers at every school. And then there is the significant financial damage that Middletown has done to itself. We had to pay for last year’s entirely preventable mold disaster, to the tune of more than half a million dollars.
Let us not forget the cost of this Board’s inexplicable refusal to apply for the Department of Education’s stabilization funding in 2021, a failure which informed parties estimate to have cost Middletown more than $4 million in likely funding the following year. For reference, Toms River and Brick Township, whose BOE’s did bother to apply, received $7.6 million and $6.5 million, respectively.
Now the Board has seen fit to place our superintendent, whose salary is about $230,000, on paid administrative leave for the six months prior to her departure at the end of this year. Maybe it’s just me, but I think that our district could have used that $130,000 for more productive purposes.
In the face of all of this, this Board chooses to spend its time – our time – focusing on controversial, hot button issues guaranteed to stir up strife and division in our town. I submit that this is no accident.
The eight members who just voted to alter existing school policy – at the expense of a highly vulnerable student minority – are staging a diversion; they are whipping up their base and attempting to focus the wider community’s attention away from their financial incompetence.
It is unprofessional, it is unproductive, and it is disgusting.”
~ Mithra Busler – Middletown Resident
Why Didn’t Middletown Schools Apply For Stabilization Aid?
Let the BOE know your thoughts on this matter…..
SEND THEM AN EMAIL
To see the full highlighted policy and what was deleted and what was added click here
Middletown Township BOE
District Policy
5756 – TRANSGENDER STUDENTS (M)
Section: Students
Date Created: May 2019
Date Edited: May 2019
Transgender Student Guidance for School Districts
https://middletownk12org-22-us-east1-01.preview.finalsitecdn.com/uploaded/5_23_23_Workshop_Voting_Meeting/Policy_-1_REVISED_5.23.23.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2_KISnP4KDN8TXN9M2I-E09WPctD6fSW1k7-qtG2o5zbFFt1K24BZ7CeY&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Adopted: 1 May 2019
For reference: Asbury Park Press: New policies targeting transgender students roil some Monmouth County schools
