Midcoast school district that ended transgender protections may reconsider

The midcoast school district that made the controversial decision to cut its transgender protections may revisit the decision.

On July 2, the chairperson of the board of Regional School Unit 40, Danny Jackson, said that it would review the decision at an unspecified future date, according to The Courier-Gazette . The balance of power on the board has changed slightly since the narrow vote to end the policy, with one new member who supports the transgender policy elected in June to replace an outgoing member who had voted to repeal it.

RSU 40 includes the towns of Union, Warren, Washington, Waldoboro and Friendship.

The district’s board repealed its transgender student protection policy after an hours-long meeting in early June, despite much pushback from the community. The vote was tied 8-8, but because some seats carry a heavier voting weight than others based on the size of the population they represent, the policy was repealed.

Jackson, who was re-appointed to his chairperson role at a board meeting on July 3 , does not know when the RSU 40 board may again take up the protections, according to the Courier-Gazette. The board’s policy committee will not meet again until September.

The policy has required several things of staff in RSU 40, including keeping the identity of transgender students private if that’s their choice, allowing the students to use the restrooms that most closely match their gender identities, and using their chosen names and pronouns.

Jules Walkup is a Report for America corps member. Additional support for this reporting is provided by BDN readers.