Abington School Board Takes Steps to Do What the Township Couldn't

The Abington School Board Policy Committee took steps Feb. 28 to modify the district’s anti-discrimination policy for its employees by recommending that the school board adds “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of protected classes in the current policy.

Abington School Board president and policy committee chairman Raymond McGarry wasn’t shy about saying the decision to modify the policy was influenced by a recent similar, but failed, Abington Township anti-discrimination ordinance.

“[The failed township ordinance] sort of sparked our thought to look at our policies to see what it covers and what it doesn’t cover,” McGarry said.

McGarry said he then asked Abington Superintendent Amy Sichel to have the school district’s solicitors write a first draft for an amendment to the policy.

A policy change must go through two public readings before it is approved and becomes effective. The earliest date for a second reading would be at the March 22 school board meeting.

McGarry added that the state school code already has an anti-discrimination policy in place for students—and it already protects against discrimination for sexual orientation, but not sexual identity.

Should it pass, the new policy would read: “The District is committed to equal opportunity without discrimination by reason of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.

“The District will provide equality of opportunity in employment by preventing against discrimination, investigating allegations of discrimination and correcting discriminatory behavior if found to exist within the District. The language in this policy is not intended to confer employee fringe benefits that are not otherwise provided for under existing employee compensation plans or collective bargaining agreements.”

McGarry said the modified policy really wouldn’t be that much of a change for the district.

“One thing that I want to make clear is … we should codify in policy what we are doing in practice,” he said. “Although the language of the policy is different, we are not changing our policy. This has always been our policy in the district—to not discriminate against anybody.”

Several residents spoke up about the proposed changes during the public comment portion of the meeting.

It was just about 50/50 in favor and against the new wording.

Bryant Geating, of Roslyn, said, “I’m concerned about the inclusiveness of this new language—‘sexual orientation.’ My concern is on the basis of consciousness. By including this significant statement [of] ‘sexual orientation,’ I believe you are legitimizing a situation that, for many people, is considered wrong.”

Another resident echoed his remarks. 

John Edgar, pastor of Reformed Presbyterian Church in Elkins Park, said he did not approve of the proposed modifications to the policy, adding that he was concerned about things like the possibility of boys using the girls’ locker room.

Edgar also said that changing the current policy could open the school district up to litigation—he said a “woman trapped in a man’s body” could potentially sue if he wanted to use the women’s room.

An irritated-sounding McGarry responded to those who voiced opposition to the proposed changes.

“I think the fact that some people may find certain lifestyles as wrong, or sinful, or whatever word you want to use … it doesn’t impact whether or not we should be discriminating against those people because of their lifestyle decisions,” he said.

There was support for the modified policy, as well.

Dave Wermeling, of Abington, said he didn’t care if the new policy brought the risk of more litigation.

“Well, it’s possible, but it’s the right thing to do anyway,” Wermeling said. “And it needs to be done. And if it needs to be defended, then that’s the right thing to do …”

Check the video.

One resident speaking in opposition to the proposed modification asked the board, “When will it end? Are you going to keep changing the policy [to broaden the scope of protected classes]?”

McGarry simply said, “Maybe.”

The Abington School Board will meet March 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the school district administration building at 970 Highland Ave.