**Spotsylvania County School Board Meeting Update**
On August 14th, the Spotsylvania County Public Schools Board convened for a significant meeting. The following are key decisions made:
1. **Governor Youngkin’s Model Policy Adoption**:
– Spotsylvania County Public Schools has become the first school division in Virginia to adopt Governor Youngkin’s Model Policy on Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for Students and Parents.
– Board Members Voting:
– In Favor: Kirk Twigg, Rabih Abuismail, April Gillespie, and Lisa Phelps.
– Against: Nicole Cole and Lorita Daniels.
– Abstaining: Dawn Shelley.
2. **Implications of the Adopted Model Policy**:
– SCPS staff are now required to address students by their birth name and biological sex, unless they have received permission from the students’ parents or guardians. This stipulation does not affect the use of common nicknames related to the student’s given name (e.g., “Bob” for “Robert”).
– Students will participate in gender-specific competitive sports based on their biological sex.
– Students’ access to bathrooms, locker rooms, and other intimate spaces will align with their birth sex. An exception is made if parents or guardians have officially indicated a change in gender following a clinical diagnosis.
3. **Consent Agenda Decisions**:
– The board approved book donations from Kirk Cameron’s Brave Books.
– A policy change was passed regarding the submission dates for charter school applications. The new deadline for these applications is December 20th, moved from the previous deadline of September 30th. This change was approved with a vote of 6-1.
This meeting demonstrates the board’s ongoing commitment to addressing and revising school policies to align with current discussions and proposed regulations.