Clifton school board approves new local policy about pronouns

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 20, the Clifton Independent School District's Board of Trustees by a split vote approved a new local policy regarding the use of a student’s preferred pronouns by a teacher.

The decision was met with significant debate among board members and the public about whether the new policy was necessary or redundant as well as where in the district’s policy handbook it should go – either under students or employment.

The new policy, which falls under the 'Identification of Students' section of the district's policy manual, stipulates that district employees, including educators and staff, shall not 'encourage / discourage, or require' the use of specific pronouns for students.

The discussion, which lasted over an hour, saw board members and attendees express a range of perspectives on the issue.

Proponent of the policy –Board Vice President Josh Ritzman– argued that the policy protects the rights of both teachers and students by ensuring that one’s political ideology is not conveyed through the use of their preferred pronouns.

“We welcome everybody in our district, but I’m just trying to keep this away from our kids,” he said. “There’s no need to teach progressive ideology to our kids. If you encourage this type of pronoun usage, you’re promoting it.”

However, opponents of the policy raised concerns about its necessity and potential implications.

'I don't think a policy like this is necessary in our public school system,' Board Secretary Heather Willmann said. ' We are a school district that is a public school, and we should be welcoming every student through our doors. Our leaders and our staff and us as the board should be focused on being kind to everybody.'

Clifton ISD Supt. Andy Ball said he is for policies that protect teachers and students. He reiterated that the district’s policies against discrimination and harassment are still in the books.

“This doesn’t cut any of that out,” he said. “Those rules are still in there.”

Some board members and community members argued that The debate also touched on whether the policy could lead to misunderstandings and even litigation.

Several community members during the public comment period voiced concerns that the policy might inadvertently send a message of exclusion rather than inclusion, given the sensitive nature of gender identity issues in the current political climate.

Trustee Jan Zuehlke echoed concerns that this issue is a distraction from more pressing matters the district is facing around financing public education in the future.

“We have spent so many hours already talking about this when we need to be talking about the budget. We need to be talking about student achievement,” she said.

After extensive discussion, the local “FI” policy was adopted with a vote of 5-2. Trustees Brown, Domal, Montes, New, and Ritzman voted to approve the policy, while trustees Willmann and Zuehlke voted against it.

The approved language included a compromise: district employees shall not 'encourage/discourage' or require the use of specific pronouns that are inconsistent with a student’s or other person’s biological sex as it appears on the individual’s birth certificate or other government-issued record.

The next Clifton school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 17, at 6 p.m. in the boardroom located at 1102 Key Avenue in Clifton.