CHESAPEAKE — The school board has adopted a set of policy changes that will prohibit teachers and staff from using and sharing their preferred pronouns when they don’t match their sex assigned at birth.
The Chesapeake School Board met Monday to vote on a set of policy changes introduced at the Nov. 17 meeting regarding the “professional conduct” and “employee-student relations” sections of the Chesapeake Public Schools policy manual.
In the 7-2 vote, board member Malia Huddle and newly elected member Amanda Quillin were against the measure.
The new language in the policy refrains all employees from “compelling any staff member to address any employee or refer to any employee in a manner that violates the staff member’s constitutionally protected rights.” Additionally, it prohibits employees from “providing to a student his or her preferred personal title or pronouns if such preferred personal title or pronouns do not correspond to his or her sex.”
Under the “employee-student relations” portion of the manual, employees cannot compel “any student to address any employee or refer to any employee in a manner that violates the student’s constitutionally protected rights.”
Though it was unclear at the November meeting what prompted the proposed changes, Board Chair Angela Swygert said Monday the changes come after several student complaints and concerns.
“We have had multiple reports of students who have become concerned and even fearful of accidentally addressing their teacher in a way that might upset them. So much so that they no longer feel comfortable asking questions in classroom,” Swygert said. “Our first priority must always be creating and maintaining the best possible learning environment for our students.”
She said the intent of the revisions is to “facilitate an environment of mutual respect.” She clarified the changes don’t impact employees’ use of preferred pronouns amongst their peers, but that a person who doesn’t “fundamentally agree” with such use “cannot be compelled to use them.”
Only a few speakers of the 20 people who spoke at Monday’s meeting supported the policy updates, with one Chesapeake resident stating that it’s about creating “stability” and certainty for children.
But most speakers, including some who used alternative and gender-neutral pronouns, opposed the change. Several shared concerns of discrimination and potential lawsuits from what they deemed unconstitutional language.
“This could lead to the rights of the LGBTQ population being violated as well,” said Suffolk resident Nicole Sperry. “I worry about how this policy will affect those who currently work here and who would potentially want to work here.”
Others cited potential negative impacts to the mental health of students and staff due to lack of acceptance and a prioritization of some parents’ rights over others.
“Every student and every employee deserves a safe, inclusive environment where they are treated with dignity and respect,” said Chesapeake resident Jeremy Rodden. “No policy should undermine that obligation or place certain groups at greater risk under the guise of professional discretion.”
Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
