Support Trans-Inclusive Training for CBSD Staff!
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Help us send CBSD staff to an upcoming training program on transgender inclusive schools!!
At the May 11th, 2021 CBSD School Board meeting, five of the school board members (Ring, Vlasblom, Collopy, Hunter and Sciuto-Ballasy) voted AGAINST a small, specific line item for a training program on transgender inclusivity for Dr. Steph Graziosi-Hibbs (Linden ES's Counselor), one of our district's identified leaders around transgender and gender diverse inclusivity.
This unexpected vote at this week's school board meeting has sent a chilling and harmful message to transgender and gender diverse students, staff, families and supporters across the district. False claims are being used to back up their push to remove the $1000 line item, including that the training program is repetitive or that it's not fiscally responsible. We have also heard some of these same board members recently belittle the importance of inclusive pronouns, and minimize the significance of supporting transgender students, because they see them as too small of a population to focus on or to protect in these ways.
The training program that Dr. Graz is attending -- which was approved by administration this year -- is not a two hour presentation like we have done in the past, but an intensive, 5 half-day program that includes education and training sessions along with personal consultation to hone plans for long-term change in our district and become part of a supportive network of education professionals.
The escalation of incidents and reports about situations within CBSD which compromise the safety and well-being of transgender and gender diverse students and staff is alarming. The Affirming Schools for Transgender Students Program is intended to provide school counselors, administrators, educators and other school staff the necessary tools to create affirming learning environments for transgender and gender non-confirming youth, and is specifically tailored to effectively support K-12th grade students in PA.
It is our hope that by swiftly raising the needed $1000, as well as sending letters to school board members and speaking up about this at the upcoming Tuesday, May 25th school board meeting, that we can impact at least one of the 5 “no votes” to rethink that vote. In hopes of this outcome, the funds raised by all of us here would be directed specifically toward programs or training for transgender students or staff in CBSD. It could even be used for another CBSD staff to attend the same program with Dr. Graz!! Stay tuned to our page here for updates and further information.
Thank you all for your support of our transgender and gender diverse students. And to our trans and gender diverse students, we see you, we believe in you, and we stand with you.
At the May 11th, 2021 CBSD School Board meeting, five of the school board members (Ring, Vlasblom, Collopy, Hunter and Sciuto-Ballasy) voted AGAINST a small, specific line item for a training program on transgender inclusivity for Dr. Steph Graziosi-Hibbs (Linden ES's Counselor), one of our district's identified leaders around transgender and gender diverse inclusivity.
This unexpected vote at this week's school board meeting has sent a chilling and harmful message to transgender and gender diverse students, staff, families and supporters across the district. False claims are being used to back up their push to remove the $1000 line item, including that the training program is repetitive or that it's not fiscally responsible. We have also heard some of these same board members recently belittle the importance of inclusive pronouns, and minimize the significance of supporting transgender students, because they see them as too small of a population to focus on or to protect in these ways.
The training program that Dr. Graz is attending -- which was approved by administration this year -- is not a two hour presentation like we have done in the past, but an intensive, 5 half-day program that includes education and training sessions along with personal consultation to hone plans for long-term change in our district and become part of a supportive network of education professionals.
The escalation of incidents and reports about situations within CBSD which compromise the safety and well-being of transgender and gender diverse students and staff is alarming. The Affirming Schools for Transgender Students Program is intended to provide school counselors, administrators, educators and other school staff the necessary tools to create affirming learning environments for transgender and gender non-confirming youth, and is specifically tailored to effectively support K-12th grade students in PA.
It is our hope that by swiftly raising the needed $1000, as well as sending letters to school board members and speaking up about this at the upcoming Tuesday, May 25th school board meeting, that we can impact at least one of the 5 “no votes” to rethink that vote. In hopes of this outcome, the funds raised by all of us here would be directed specifically toward programs or training for transgender students or staff in CBSD. It could even be used for another CBSD staff to attend the same program with Dr. Graz!! Stay tuned to our page here for updates and further information.
Thank you all for your support of our transgender and gender diverse students. And to our trans and gender diverse students, we see you, we believe in you, and we stand with you.
Organizer
Emily Lieberman
Organizer
Doylestown, PA
