CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The Chesapeake School Board voted unanimously to adopt a version of the Model Policy. It's a heated topic of debate for school boards across Hampton Roads.
Monday's meeting wrapped up fairly quickly, with no board members speaking.
“This is one of our most vulnerable populations and you have been charged with keeping all our kids safe and preserving their dignities,” said one speaker.
“I just ask you to stay the course and adopt the full intent of the model policies without equivocation and without further delay,” added another speaker.
The approval means school staff will only refer to a student using their name and gender pronouns that appear on official records. It also means that if any school program, event, or extracurricular is separated by biological sex then participation in that activity is based on a student’s biological sex and not gender identity.
The new rules also require students to use restrooms and join sports teams that correspond with their biological sex. School staff now also must refer to students by the names and pronouns on their official records.
Amber Bowmer, president of Pride in the Peake and a substitute teacher in Chesapeake Public Schools, says the adoption of these policies strips some students of safeguards.
"I am heartbroken for the youth of our schools,” said Bowmer.
She blames Gov. Glenn Youngkin for enforcing these policies.
“It’s a slap in the face to a very fragile community and quite frankly he’s telling the LGBTQIA community that their children don’t matter," Bowmer explained.
Bowmer wants to try and get the plan repealed.
School districts that do not adopt a version of the policies are currently in violation of state law.
For a full look at the changes in the policy, visit the Chesapeake School Board's website here.