11/06/2025
see the FCPS BoE first reading of proposed revisions to policy 443 from 11/5
Watch FCPS TV on Comcast Channel 18 in Frederick County. Meetings broadcast live and the next evening.
You can find a playlist of all Board Committee meetings on fcps YouTube channel.
Here are some not so exact notes as a brief summary and key times to look for in recording
9 pm- Yoho recommends removal of term gender dysphoria,
Brennan is asking about “keeping secrets”,
staff says student info system collects preferred name which is for many reasons such as Jen instead of Jennifer. Registration portal allows parents to enter info including gender and names, often parents come in with student to speak with counselor, around 200 kids have a preferred name in system, counselors follow current policy- student has conversation, counselor will ask if parent aware, counselor works toward child involving parent, but it is student choice as per policy.
Staff states 2021 state required gathering non-binary info, they state 50 (gender differences) listed- (this is not term they used)
9:09- 9:15 Brennan is asking how private counselor sessions in schools are monitored. Who are these people talking to our children?
9:18 Dean Rose-state law states all children age 12 and over are entitled to private mental health counseling without parent permission
9:19 Brennan says policy hides and deceives parents and we provide individualized mental health services and questions this as a budget item and a practice of allowing children to speak to counseling without parent knowledge
9:21 monier mentions medical privacy and asks how it applies
9:23 lawyer says this is board driven language in policy not legal staff
9:26 Rose says parents would and should know what their children are going through and that ferpa (sp) allows parents to come in and see files
9:28 Brennan asks for that to be in policy that parents can get the info
9:29 allen mentions class action (other school) about hiding name and gender from parents and says parents have a right to know
Staff states parents can come in and review student record so if a name/gender change is recorded it is visible, counseling records are private
9:31 yoho disagrees with brennan’s characterization of counselors and states board needs to spend time in schools to understand the work counseling does
9:34 rose states the policy is the what,regulation is the how and in regulation we have privacy policy , student record law and then hyperlinked to student record and parent rights
9:36- yoho mentions if better by school level vs age 12, rose says 12 and over are allowed mental health services without parents
9:37 Monier states something should be given to students so they understand their 443 rights especially if they are changing name in system vs a nickname for friends to call them - rose says this was regulation so not part of policy
Rose: those who know 443 are those who need it
9:39 -9:45 section D 2 rose proposing delete all of d2 (supports use of name and pronoun
West board school board, Garty in Ohio (sp) Virginia Supreme Court state case, no jurisdiction use as context only,) in investigation neighboring Polk board , Polk (sp) is binding in md, specific law: you should all watch this part! This is a new proposal of name use and pronoun use- Thanks to Rose, Yoho, Gallagher! 💗 💗
9:47 -9:52 brennan discusses religious liberty and opt out Supreme Court decision and believes it should apply
9:52 rose says you get religious accommodation you don’t have to use name but it does not give you permission to harass a student - Brennan objects to any punishment for students not choosing to use pronouns for any reasons
10 pm section D 3 facility use will stay based on existing case law as settled law-allen states she does not like policy and student member of board said students dont care about policy or know about policy- Allen says this policy is a major safety issue and this is an adult issue
10:04 gallagher states survey was a simple sample
10:05 student member of board states the students 443 helps it helps but it does not negatively effect others and is not the problem many make it out to the board 💗 💗 our student member of the board is doing an excellent job of representing all students💗
10:07 brennan asks what are guidelines to use restroom, student member of board states if i was uncomfortable i would walk a minute away to another rest room,
10:11 brennan says females would be at physical disadvantage mentions loudon individual
10:13 now Brennan is asking if adults can use any restroom, Gallagher says this is student policy only
10:14 Monier states policy says all students can use this policy to ask for another space if they feel uncomfortable
10:16 rose said we added a sincerely held part of personality to this section of bathroom / facilities use, brennan says who is monitoring this, student member states that admin permission is needed at his school
10:20- brennan is asking that policy is changed to say only students who ask /get permission to use different restroom
10: 22 d4 sports -rose says current case law holds jurisdiction , Supreme Court will hear this case and results expected this summer
10:23 brennan asks if we have female students on boy football or wrestling teams- staff: yes we follow state guidelines for how they are listed- ex football is considered coed sport in md
10:27 brennan : can we not allow male to play on female team and instead have them play as female on boys team then
10:29 Brennan forcing girls to give spot on team to boy, rose says we must accommodate student
Brennan states executive order potential budgetary enforcement
10:30 rose mentions added line with individual circumstances can be considered, rose wants to reassure female athletes that no transgender athlete ever received an athletic scholarship
10:32 each member given time to ask for edits
Yoho- remove gender dysphoria and follow roses edit for name use
10:35- Moniers questions definitions
10:35 ms Allen all of my changes were voted down already
10:36- Gallagher gd and follow roses edit
10:36 brennan section 1d clarify that parents can request to see records specifically name change
3a when student has been given authorization by administrators , I don’t agree with Mr rose edits I think we need time to look at case referenced, I oppose any punishment for students using incorrect pronouns
10:38 student member says remove gender dysphoria, students and parents should know that parents can request to see records so it is clear
10:40 lawyer- staff not working on regulation because policy is still in process but will do later
10:42 clarification on student records can be requested by parent and permission should be given by admin to use restroom (barely understandable tired discussion till 10:46)
10:46 rose says do not support language permission for restroom
10:47 field trips language presented but ask to move to field trip policy once approved (later a public comment asks for all parts to move to separate policies and get rid of 443 using this as example)
10:48 approve for second reading, remove gd, edits to d implementation names and pronouns, and a reference in student records
10:50 officially have montion
10:52 Peter brennan comments
10:53 Casey day teacher
Public Comments continue to 11:07, including dana and ed mooney, pflag frederick board members
11:07 Trudy disagrees with deleting gender dysphoria, says in 2017 no one knew about policy until virtual learning parents knew what was going on till then thinks we need to go in direction of ms Allen and ms Brennan, also she can speak as tax payer does not matter that her kids are not in school
11:10 parent and aunt speaks about lies told at election polling, take a look at yourself, I drive students to school, and I watch our transgender students go in and be accepted by peers , why are we as adults bullying children 💗
11:12 motion to move to second reading with edits approved
