Central Bucks School Board To Update Public On ACLU Complaint

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Central Bucks School Board will hold a special meeting on Thursday, April 20 to accept a report from its special counsel regarding the ACLU complaint filed against the district with the U.S. Department of Education.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the district's Educational Services Building at 16 Welden Drive.

In addition to accepting the report, the board will decide whether to disseminate it.

The board voted in November to retain the law firm of Duane Morris to perform an internal investigation into the issues raised in the ACLU complaint and to review the district’s policies related to the complaint.

In early October, the ACLU-PA filed a complaint with the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division on behalf of seven students in Central Bucks School District who allege a widespread culture of discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, particularly transgender
students.

The complaint is based on a five-month investigation by ACLU-PA lawyers who interviewed dozens of students, family members, current and former teachers and other school staff, and community stakeholders.

According to the legal complaint, the picture that emerged is of a "toxic educational environment" for LGBTQ+ students that has been exacerbated by "homophobic and transphobic actions and policies taken by the school board and upper-level administrators.

“These children deserve a safe environment where they can learn and be their full selves without fear of being bullied by other students,” said Witold Walczak, legal director at the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

“Unfortunately, rather than combat the toxic educational environment faced by LGBTQ+ students in Central Bucks, a new school board majority and the administration have exacerbated the problems with new homophobic and transphobic policies that have heightened the climate of fear for this group of students and supportive staff.”

Because the students in the complaint are all minors and due to the sensitive nature of the allegations, both the names of students and details of the discrimination they faced are not being released to the public.

“The students we represent share a common theme: they’ve endured persistent and often severe bullying by peers based on their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Reggie Shuford, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “The bullying was ignored by key school administrators and staff when the students sought help. The climate has become so bad in some school buildings that trans students are afraid to eat in the cafeteria and even go to school. This is no way to educate and treat children. It’s immoral, unethical, and illegal.”

On October 11, the school board responded to the action calling upon the ACLU to provide the district with an unredacted copy of the complaint and to bring to the board’s attention specific allegations of discrimination, harassment, or bullying so that the allegations can be addressed
appropriately and with due regard for the rights of all involved.

“Unfortunately, the ACLU has refused to do so,” said school board president Dana Hunter. “The board is unwavering in its commitment to Central Bucks students and families and to ensuring that a high-quality, safe, and productive learning environment is provided for every student. There is no tolerance for discrimination, harassment, or bullying of any kind.”

In addition to withholding information about specific allegations, Hunter said the ACLU has chosen to use its complaint as a partisan, political tool.

“The Board is not going to be distracted by the ACLU’s tactics," said Hunter. "We will continue to focus on academics and on common-sense decisions to support the educational experience for every single student in the district. The Board will continue to support our parents and their right
to direct the course of their children’s education, and the Board will continue to do the work for which it was elected.

“We are eager for the findings of the Duane Morris investigation in order to address what has otherwise been, for nearly a month, hidden information,” said Hunter.