Lisbon School Department has policy to keep gender identity of students hidden from parents

Parents Defending Education submitted a public records request to the Lisbon School Department seeking any guidance on transgender issues. The district provided PDE with a policy titled “Transgender and Gender Expansive Students.” The policy is very similar to a policy that PDE received from a public records request to Maine School Administrative District 15 in which the superintendent of the district explained to PDE that the policy was created by the Maine School Boards Association (MSBA). This policy states that the gender identity of students can be hidden from parents:

In the case of a student who has not yet informed their parent(s)/guardian(s), the administrator shall first discuss parent/guardian involvement with the student to avoid inadvertently putting the student at risk by contacting their parent(s)/guardian(s). The student shall be notified by the administrator prior to contacting their parent(s)/guardian(s).

Staff and students are mandated to use the preferred pronouns of other students: “A student who has been identified as transgender under these guidelines should be addressed by school staff and other students by the name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity that is asserted at school.” Students are allowed to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their preferred gender identity.

PDE also received an email from the district’s curriculum director to staff. The email included resources from OUT Maine, which is an organization known for targeting children with LGBTQ issues. She states: “This information includes a survey for their growth as presenters, resources for classroom learning and support as it connects to your curriculum and work with students, and lastly a link to a new, self-paced training program for those who missed the training.” One resource notably stated “K-12 LGBTQ+ Curriculum.”