Thread by @inminivanhell

Like many other far-right majority school districts around California, last night Orange Unified passed a Parent Notification Policy that requires staff to out LGBTQ+ students to parents.

But, I unfortunately can’t post a copy of the policy bec it was switched.

🧵 Let’s talk-

During the August 17th OUSD school board meeting the board held a first reading of a proposed Parent Notification Policy. Trustees discussed and gave feedback on changes they would like implemented on the policy before it came back for approval in September.

Here’s draft #1-

In advance of last night’s meeting, as required by Brown Act Laws, OUSD school board released their agenda last week with a copy of the revised Parent Notification Policy. The policy had significant changes from the original discussed in Aug.

Draft #2 taken from posted agenda:

I was personally told by residents that they felt the revision up for approval was “basically meaningless now.”

Due to the rise of covid, outside organized agitators planning to attend, and the changes they believed watered down the policy into unimportance- many stayed home.

Those who did attend last night’s OUSD mtg called it incredibly unsafe, with a shocking amount of outside agitators who showed up with little to no police intervention. As people outside waited to speak, they being shoved & threatened by an entire mob of far-right activists.

/5

Supporters of the far-right board majority drove into town early & reserved speaking spots & seats while OUSD parents had carpool pick ups, homework to help with, dinner to make, and extra curricular commitments they had to fulfill before attending to their own school board mtg:

https://twitter.com/skyspider_/status/1699935560398410162

For those watching from home, who had previously watched other OUSD mtgs, it was very clear something was different. The large community that has been rallying to recall far-right trustee were not speaking.

Three Trustees (board minority) left the meeting due to safety concerns.

After public comments, Trustee Madison Miner (Hillsdale/Cal Policy Center charter school parent) announced there were changes made to the policy BEFORE THE MTG. She explained that those in attendance were given a copy of the revisions (not posted online).

She read new policy:

Here is part 2 of the reading of the significant changes to the agendized OUSD’s Parent Notification Policy.

Changes not made during the meeting, they were agreed upon before the meeting & trustees had prewritten/preplanned statements in support of the revisions:

Agendized draft:

A certificated staff member, shall promptly refer a student to their school counselor or school psychologist when the staft member becomes aware that a student is:

New policy:

Any administrator/certificated staff shall notify the principal or other designee, within 2 days in writing, if any of them become aware pupil is experiencing gender dysphoria and/or gender incongruence, either of which may be evidence if pupil does any of following:

Agendized draft:

After meeting with student, the school counselor/psychologist shall consult with the school principal. It shall be the responsibility of the school principal to provide notification to the parent unless student is 12 vears or older and refuses to consent

Approved policy:

The principal designee shall notify parent in writing within 5 school days from date notified by certified employee if the pupil engaged in any of the activities in enumerated sections 1A-1C.

Added section:

Where pupil under 12 yrs of age DOES NOT ENGAGE IN ANY BEHAVIORS SECTIONED IN 1A-1C BUT REVEALS TO SCHOOL COUNSELOR HIS/HER DESIRE TO BE TREATED AS A GENDER OTHER THAN BIOLOGICAL SEX or expresses experiencing gender dysphoria parents notified within 5 school days

Added section:

Pupils over age of 12 who DOES NOT ENGAGE IN ANY BEHAVIORS SECTIONED IN 1A-1C BUT REVEALS TO SCHOOL COUNSELOR HIS/HER DESIRE TO BE TREATED AS A GENDER OTHER THAN BIOLOGICAL SEX must determine if reasonable cause exists to disclose gender identity to parents -

is necessary to avert clear present danger of the health/safety or welfare of pupil given known heightened risk for trans identifying and gender nonconforming youth of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.

New section:

For over 12 year old pupils who do not engage in behaviors but disclose desire in private to school counselor, counselor can avoid parent notification IF clear and present danger to pupil. School counselor must record specific basis for his/her belief in writing.

There was no new motion made to approve the new policy that was significantly different than the agendized policy. The public was not notified in advance, and were lead to believe that the board was approving a REDUCED notification policy & allowing for more privacy for students.

Now, the policy not only notifies parent if a child is asking to be identified as a gender that differs from their biological sex (in classroom or outside classroom with just peers), but if they mention their desires in PRIVATE to their counselor.

This is absolutely disgusting.

Teachers are being required to medically diagnose children with language used in the DSM by medical professionals.

To clarify, identifying kids with (example) ADHD equires an IEP process with full parent involvement and testing. It must also impede on their academics.

As an example, if a school suspected an emotional disturbance that was impacting their academic experience, parent would be fully involved & must give permission. Additionally services/goals would given by the school to ensure child received a fair appropriate public education.

This new policy does not mention any noticeable academic impact seen by a teacher to allow for intervention, but merely claiming they believe identifying as a different gender puts them at higher risks for suicide. Again, not actually suicidal- just the staff’s personal “belief”.

There is absolutely NO follow up. The school is not offering ongoing support to the student and their family, like you would see during an IEP. They’re literally just notifying parents and wishing them all good luck.

This is not only cruel, it’s incredibly dangerous.

We can debate back & forth many things, but anyone who supports outing a child who shares a DESIRE in private to their trusted counselor is fucking wrong.

This is disgusting. I am so incredibly angry over changes and will be personally contacting @AGRobBonta & @TonyThurmond