September 21, 2016 PWCS School Board Meeting

001I'd like to call the Prince William County Schoolboard public meeting to order. Our first order of business here is the pledge of allegiance. Do we have any students, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Weeblows in the crowd that would like to come up front and lead us in the pledge of allegiance? You are welcome to come join us. As many of you that are here, come on up. You don't have to raise your hand. I'm the coolest teacher ever. I don't make you raise your hand. Just come on up. And then we'll get going here with the uh if everyone will please rise for the pledge of allegiance. And then we will uh if you stay afterwards and please say your name, grade, and school. Uh into the microphone. Thank you. I pledge algiance to

002the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Name grade in school everyone in in the microphone if if you're willing. What name grade in school? My name is Cali Dmple and I'm a member of seat in school and I'm a junior. My name is Maria Torres. I am homeschooled and I am a 10th grader. Hi, my name is Kieran Janoli. I'm from St. John Paul the Great and I am an 11th grader. I am Wes Torres. I am 12 and I I'm in seventh grade and I'm homeschooled. Hi, my name is Liberty Dennis and I'm from Henderson Elementary and I'm in fifth grade. My name is Miriam Dennis. I'm in eighth grade. I go to Sunders

003Middle School and I am 14 years old. My name is Janette Wilson. I am in seventh grade and I go to Pennington Traditional School. My name is Jerry Dermple. I am in 8th grade and I go to Satan School. Good evening. I'm Joshua Miller. I'm a senior at Satan School. Thank you all. All right, we are moving along to item 12.01, approval of the public meeting agenda. A motion is in order. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Deutsch, I move that we amend the agenda to move item 19.02 to right after item 15.01 and further that immediately after we vote, uh, we swear in the member. Mr. Chairman, I'll second that. Hold on one second here. Hold on. You said that really fast for me, Mr. Deutsch. This is normally procedural, so I apologize. Um, 1902 to where

004that we move item 19.02 right after item 15.01 and that immediately after we do that, we uh swear in the member and seat them. Yeah, I don't I don't that's never been done before. Uh, I'd have to we can uh let me see here. Hold on one second here. clerk of the court can do that. We don't do that, right? He can be sworn in right here by a member of the clerk of the court. The clerk of the court's not here. They have to set it up themselves. Somebody's available tonight. Yeah. No, there's somebody We can't have that. We We can't We can't have that. I'm sorry. We can't have that. This is there's a there's a lot of text up here on the computer. I'm ultimately just trying to figure out the best

005way to uh to get this motion in without uh without losing everything that I already have in here. Yeah. Well, we need Well, first of all, we we've got a motion here. Um, we can put it on the agenda. We can put on the agenda. Well, okay. Hold on one second. This window is small. Pardon me. to um sorry, we're just this is a new thing, so we're making sure we get everything right here. um to add to the agenda, which which a swearing in would be. To add to the agenda, uh the school board on the spot, it takes unanimous consent to add for action. It takes two/3s majority to add for information uh by by rule. So to to add to the agenda, um it would be a Mr. Satway, did you second

006the motion? I'm just making I'm sorry, I'm catching up here. Yes, Mr. Chairman. I need to ask technology. Um, will this will this recognize since it takes unanimous consent to add to the agenda? If I add this in on board docs and it's not unanimous, will it it doesn't take I because normally it would say the motion would pass. So what's the best way? Do we do we take this? Do we I don't want to screw up the the public system here. What's the best way to take this without it without it messing up the the technology side of things or do we just take it by hand? Where did you ask to? Right after 1501. Okay. Um, just making sure we got this the procedural part of this right. Uh, Mr. Deutsch, I added

007I have the agenda as is and then I say that the new school board member be sworn in after the vote of 1902. Uh, right to come right after item 15.01. Sure. And the rest of the agenda is is as in in in the computer system already. All right. Uh discussion on that. Miss Williams. Um I object to the motion only because from my understanding um there's paperwork involved in a swearing in ceremony that must be completed before the person is sworn in. Um and we also have to have someone to swear them in and the additional time constraint the evening. I feel that at this point it should better to just appoint the person and have them sworn in at a separate time when their paperwork and everything else is completed officially. Thank you,

008Miss Williams. Anyone else? Uh I Mr. Deutsch. Yeah, Mr. Chairman, I think it's important that we have all seats represented before we take action. Um the only required paperwork The only the only required paperwork is to turn in the uh statement of economic interest and the clerk of the court's office has the other paperwork they need and uh that can be taken care of fairly quickly. Yeah. Yeah. I I have I have I the only concerns that I have aren't necessarily um aren't necessarily uh well they're basically it's it's this has never been done. Every time someone has been replaced, they've always taken the seat the next time. And there could be major major concerns if something isn't done properly. If it's not thoroughly vetted by the proper people and proper authorities that take the

009paperwork and review the paperwork. If so, we have someone vote on an issue and something wasn't done exactly right. Um we could we could have some problems. Um so yeah, that that's that's my concern. So it sounds like we have So with that we can take the Miss McGowan just let me cl clarify that the the new acting board member can only assume his duties after he has been sworn by the clerk of the court or any judge and he has filled out the statement of economic interests required by the conflict of interest act and filed it with the with the clerk. My understanding obviously since we the board has not even acted to appoint him yet that he has not filled out that form which is required by the conflict of interest act. Thank

010you. Any further discussion on this? So we'll take the vote. Those in favor of the motion, please signify yes by raising your right hand. Those not in favor, please signify no by raising your right hand. Thank you. Mr. Mr. Chairman, hold on. I clicked save. We're not getting It's not processing here. Howard, I clicked save and it's not popping up. I swear it's not my fault. All right, we've got that um can we go to it now? We got no motion on the floor and my apologies. I got ahead on my schedule with no motion on the floor now. I'm sorry, Miss Urban. Go ahead and announce the vote is two yes, Deutsch and Satwite and five no Wilston Sawyers Jesse Williams. Motion failed. Okay. With with no motion on the floor and unanimous consent

011of the board, I apologize. I skipped over the invocation and my apologies uh to everyone here to give the invocation. It's itch. Yeah, we knew we Miss Jesse said we need an invocation and I agree and I skip I skipped right over it because it's not on my computer screen. It's on the paper in front of me. So, my apologies. So, we have two invocations today. First, um I imam Diane Johnson from the Dar Alnor Islamic Community Center in Woodbridge, please. Thank you, respected members of the board. In the name of God, the beneficent, the merciful. We gather here today to do the business of our community, the business of the county of Prince William. Dear Almighty God, we begin by thanking you, our Lord, fashioner and creator of the heavens, the earth, the cosmos,

012the universe, and all that it contains. We thank you our Lord and Sustainer for the blessings, for our sustenance, for your mercy and kindness, and for your guidance and assistance that you bestow upon us. We pray that you, the owner of all praise and glory, extend your blessings, your bounties, your forgiveness and mercy, your guidance and help, your caring and understanding upon this body, upon this gathering, upon this assembly, and upon our respected members of the Prince William County School Board. We pray God that you place us on the path of righteousness and justice, the path of fairness and kindness, the path of knowledge and understanding. We pray that in our discussion this evening and our deliberations that you guide us, protect us from doing wrong or injustice, and that you grant us patience, prudence,

013and wisdom. We ask and seek your forgiveness for our human weaknesses, frailties, and defects and protect those in our charge from them. Lastly, oh merciful God, we ask that you have mercy on this community. Help us and guide us. Foster love, kindness, caring, and understanding amongst us and between us. This we do and pray in your name, Almighty God. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Imam Johnson. Thank you. Um, and I should say that both both uh invocations are at the request of Diane Rston of the NABSCO district. Sorry, Miss Rston. I got ahead of myself on the invocation here. Our next invocation is from Father Michael Bazison of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manasses. Father, Lord God, we gather always in your name. You who created all things, the earth and everything that dwells on

014this earth. You created humanity in your image, in your likeness. You created us male and female. We ask that you continue to guide the deliberations of our government, both local and national and international. We ask that you guide the discussions here tonight in a spirit of love, a spirit of understanding, a spirit of justice. Oh God, who created us, keep us true to what you have created. Amen. Thank you. We continue with the approval of the public meeting agenda. Um, a motion is in order. Um, I I'll go just make the initial motion. I make the motion that the that the uh Prince William County School Board approve the public meeting agenda as recommended. Do we have a second? Mr. Chairman, Mi Miss uh Williams, I second. Thank you. Discussion, Mr. Chairman. Miss Williams, I

015would just um like to take this moment and opportunity to recognize our all of our custodial services employees during custodial uh services employee appreciation week. They are often um not brought to the forefront for recognition but do the job that matters so much to our day-to-day lives and I just wanted them to un to u be recognized and appreciated. Um, also I'm a little biased, but National Italian Heritage Month, um, and Cyber Security Awareness Month. Um, I just wanted to speak to both of those and, uh, acknowledge that we are, um, celebration and an appreciation. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Williams. Any further discussion? Miss Jesse? Um, I would like to also, uh, recognize the custodial staff. I've been a principal for 20 years and I was very blessed to have some of the best

016custodians in Prince William County. Uh I was visiting another school system and I I walked in the building and I I right immediately said this building is does not represent Prince William County. This is not Prince William County. Honestly, that was the first observation that I made. I looked at the floors. I looked at everything because buildings have feelings and you feel good when you walk into a building. It says something about our commitment to our staff. I also would like to recognize I think it was Prince George's County on bus safety. There was a uh bus driver who was able to get I think 23 students out of her bus before this bus went into flames. Uh, I, you know, we've always done those bus safety drills and for her to have the presence

017of mine to get those kids out of that bus. I just wanted to to to all the bus drivers. I know what it's like and I know what it's like to have a kindergarten on that bus. Uh, a kindergartener can disrupt everybody and cause all kinds of chaos, but they our bus drivers are uh, phenomenal bus drivers. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Jesse. Just want to remind everybody that we're still on item 12.01, which is the approval of the public meeting agenda, not the adoption of the consent agenda. Uh we got a little ahead of ourselves there, but that's okay. Uh you you would have said it anyway, so it didn't it didn't cost us any time. So with with with any with any further is there any further discussion on the agenda? Those in

018favor of the motion, please signify yes by raising your right hand. Thank you. Hopefully it saves this time. Vote is seven. Yes. Unanimous. Motion passed. Thank you. Moving right along now to the adoption of the close uh excuse me, adoption of the consent agenda. And I know Miss Williams and Miss uh Miss Miss uh excuse me, Miss Miss Jesse, you've already said it's your piece. Is is there anyone else who would like to speak to the adoption of the closed session or excuse me ahead of myself, Mr. Chairman? Yeah, we're all ahead of ourselves here and I apologize, Miss Williams. I move that the Prince County School Board approve the public meeting consent consent agenda as recommended. Thank you. Do we have a second? Miss Rston, can I second? There we go. Yes, you can.

019Thank you. And I got ahead of myself, so now we're all even. Any discussion on the on the uh consent agenda? Mr. Deutsch. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I want to apprec uh thank uh Miss Goss for all of the recognitions that we put on the consent agenda and specifically thank her for item 13.05, German American Day. I briefly just want to talk about uh Thank you, Mr. Deutsch. Sorry. I briefly just want to talk about item 1312, which is Virginia Farm to School Week. um not only is one of my personal little um personal little things is is to make sure that hungry students uh have ability to eat uh and and and and have and have fresh food available to them or is that's an important part to me. But the uh I

020particularly like to to have a small garden as well. So the Virginia Farm to School Week, which I learned quite a bit about when I first uh was elected, I went down to Williamsburg with the rest of the rest of the board who was still seated at the time and talked to the farm to school people quite a bit. It's it's a great program and I'm glad we're a part of it. Anyone else? With that, um, those in favor of the consent agenda, please signify yes by raising your right hand. Thank you. The vote is seven. Yes, unanimous. Motion passed. All right, we are moving on to citizens comment time. Let me get my notes oriented here. Get my notes straight. Okay, with citizens comment time, everyone will receive three minutes. I know we have

021a lot of speakers signed up today. Um, again, I'm going to repeat what I said earlier. Those who I'm going to call the first 10 speakers to the front and then I'm actually going to call the next 10 speakers as well. when you're in the next 10, when you're on deck, so to speak, in the next 10, um you don't have to do anything yet. I'm just giving you a heads up that if you are in one of the auxiliary rooms that after when right before speaker 10 speaks, um I'll call the next 10 up to the front room and then I'll announce the next 10 after that. That should give everyone plenty of time to make it from auxiliary rooms uh here to the front as well. So, we only have room for the

022for 10 roughly 10 at a time uh here in the front. Uh standard decorum uh goes as always. Uh please use proper decorum when speaking to the board. If you don't, you'll be asked to step aside. Uh everyone will get three minutes. You'll see the timer up above me when I remember to punch the button. If not, Miss Williams usually usually pokes at me to make sure that I do it. Um and you'll see it turns yellow at 30 seconds and turns red at 0 seconds. And you'll be asked to stop. And obviously we have a lot of speakers, so we'll try to stick to that uh as best as possible. uh with a large crowd here today. I know that a lot of people are here to speak about items that they're passionate about.

023I will repeat what I said at the last meeting, which is that we will not have any negative uh cheering. Obviously, we we have traditionally allowed some sort of applause. Uh but there are other people here to speak, including students, um to speak on behalf of of the subject that they're passionate about, and I don't want either anybody to to discourage uh public involvement that way. So, we will not have any of the negative side of things. So, with that, I'm going to call the first 10 speakers up, and you are welcome to come up here and sit in the front row. Uh, we've got speaker number one, delegate Bob Marshall, Kathy Marshall, David Aante, Eric Kellum, Katherine Ring, Danica Rome, Bill Hosp, Mario Reynoso, Callie Dow, Rimple, and Elise and Meline Vials. You are

024our first 10. The next 10, again, you do not need to come forward now, but I'm just giving you fair warning in case you're in the other room. The next 10 will be Bob Weir, David Hish, Andrea Miller, Joshua Miller, Gabriella Miller, Don Shaw, Leah Dennis, Miriam Dennis, Hannah Dennis, and Liberty Dennis. Those 10, those second 10 that I listed do not need to come up right now. Just giving you a heads up. The first 10 should be up here in the front row. We will start with Delegate Marshall who I see here in front of me. Delegate Marshall, the podium is yours and I will start your time. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Prince William School Board provides that policy changes must be explained in a completed policy regulation

025justification form and must include legal implications, education benefits, impact on administration of the school division, immediate and future changes in numbers of assignments of personnel, immediate and future budgetary impact. The previous board explained how policy changes would work before they approved them for student transfers, counseling services, and education evaluation and reporting. Mr. Chairman, where is the staff analysis for your dangerous changes? You work for these parents back here. They pay your salary. You must think they deserve no explanation about the effects of your policy. Your 2015 campaign website said transparency was your priority. Well, where is the transparency? The board did not vote to wave the staff explanation requirement. Acts of public bodies made in intentional ignorance of their effects and in overt violation of due process are arbitrary, capricious and disrespect citizens. Your disruptive

026changes are mere ideology. First, Virginia law. In fact, my statute 20 House Bill 2879 from 2005 gave Prince William schools authority to address bullying, including requiring character education, student conduct codes, informing parents if students are the objects of violent acts, stalking, and other bad conduct. Second, your FOYA officer told me, quote, "There were no founded cases of discrimination filed against Prince William County or its employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the last 5 years by its students, employees, or contractors. Third, Superintendent Waltz said at the last meeting that principles now prudently handle any such cases. A board action to create protected classes not authorized by the general assembly has absolutely no legal authority, including your bogus compromise, delaying but not eliminating mixed sex bathrooms and locker rooms. Will your changes

027require speech codes to address transgendered individuals like New York City officials do? Will teen girls be pushed out of college sports scholarships because biological boys will be competing on their teams? Do you know the effects, but you're not informing parents? Mr. Mr. Chairman, you told a constituent of mine that the courts will weigh in on this. Indeed, Fairfax parents are now in Virginia Supreme Court on issues raised here tonight. You intentionally provoked Prince William parents who can take you to court for failure to follow to your own regulations, Virginia Code 22.1-87, to decide if the board exceeded its authority, acted arbitrarily or capriciously. You have opposed and obstructed efforts of the elected Brentville Brentville board member, United States Navy Commander Gil Trenham, to designate an appropriate substitute to represent Brentsville citizens while he serves on

028active duty. Now, you seek to ensure that his replacement may not vote on your destructive policy because you'll vote on those changes before he is sworn on. Tonight, your acts are beyond arbitrary and capricious. You have intentionally deprived Princeville citizens of their voice in the government of their schools. A complaint against King George was that he has refused for a long time to cause others to be elected. Thank you, Delegate Marshall. Please understand. Our next speaker is Kathy Marshall. Kathy Kathy Marshall is our next speaker. Kathy, she's not gonna be here. Okay. Our next speaker is David Aponte. David, good evening and thank you to the school board for allowing me the time to speak tonight. My name is David Aante, and I want to talk about science, politics, and religion tonight. So, this should

029be a fun speech. As chair of Glisten Nova, an organization dedicated to making schools safer and more affirming for all students regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. I've been working with LGBT student leaders, many from this county, for a decade now. And I've been to many of these schoolboard meetings. I've also heard concerns from students, parents, teachers, administrators, and schoolboard members on both sides of issues concerning LGBT students. First, let's talk about science. It was brought up quite a bit at the last meeting. Many people referred to gender dysphoria at the last meeting and talked about how these struggling those struggling with it need love and support, not policies. While you are right about LGBT students needing love and support, you're wrong about the terms and wrong about the need for policies.

030The American Psychological Association states that gender nonconformity is not itself a mental disorder. The critical element of gender dysphoria is the presence of clinically significant distress associated with the condition. Identifying as transgender is not the same as identifying as someone who is experiencing gender dysphoria. This policy is designed to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity which we all use in some way. For example, I identify as a man which happens to be the biological sex I was assigned at birth. So, in essence, this policy protects everyone based on gender identity. Next, let's talk about politics. Some people at the last meeting brought up the Dylan rule and how it would be illegal to amend this policy. This isn't the case. The Dylan rule does not apply in this situation as the Virginia Supreme Court has

031found that the school board supervisory power includes powers to regulate the safety and welfare of all students and to apply local policies, rules, and regulations adopted for the day-to-day management of a teaching staff. This is echoed in the opinion of the sitting attorney general of Virginia. You can't ignore the opinion of the court or the attorney general simply because you don't like it. You also can't ignore the years of research and policy that has shown the positive impact that policies similar to this one have had on entire school systems. Many have said that the government can't just force the schools to do this. And you're right. However, the schools and the school board have a responsibility to keep students safe. All students, not just the ones that represent views, lifestyles, or beliefs that you agree

032with. Lastly, I wanted to talk about religion. I grew up as a Jewish student in this community. I was a big minority. I was one of, I believe, three students growing up for most of the time that I was in school. And I heard a lot of religion thrown around to attack people. A lot of this has been baseless and it's been used against people over and over again. You can't pray on Saturday and Sunday and hate on Monday. The school board needs to adopt this policy because we need policies that stick behind that philosophy and we need to support all of our students. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Eric Kellum. Eric. Good evening. My name is Eric Kellum. My address is on file with the clerk. I'm the pastor of Zion

033Church Woodbridge and I'm here to discuss the school board policy 60. First, to the LGBT community. While my faith causes me to believe something different than what you live, that takes nothing away from the compassion that I have for you. I fear that this topic and conversations like it around the country continue to cause a divide between the LGBT community and the church. And that really grieves my heart. More importantly, it grieves the heart of God. All people matter to God. And I want to apologize as a leader in the church to all who have been in a place of worship where you felt unloved, insulted, discriminated against, disrespected because of people who have used the Bible as a shield to hide their fears. I'm truly sorry. You are all my neighbors according to the

034Bible, and it is my desire to advocate and help you find solutions and practices to help you feel safe without compromising the values of others. I guess I feel like the spirit of Rodney King is upon me. Why can't we all just get along? Why can't we work together towards a solution where everyone is represented at the table? The transgender student who feels bullied. The Muslim young lady who compromises her faith to take off her head covering in a public bathroom with a member of the opposite sex, biologically speaking. A Christian family putting trust in a public school system that they can send their kids to learn math and science, leaving the controversial subjects to be addressed in the privacy of their home. Mr. Chairman, with all due respect, I'm concerned about how you've governed

035this entire process. I don't believe you've truly factored possible consequences and ramifications. And while I appreciate that you have adjusted your language recently as it pertains to bathroom and locker room use, I still believe that it is unwise to go forward with a vote on this issue without taking into consideration the concerns of all of the committee of the community. Luke 14:38 28-31. For who would begin to construct a building without calculating the cost? or what king would go to a war against another kingdom without first sitting down with counselors to discuss. Mr. Chairman, it's gotten back to the public that this decision to vote on the changing policy wasn't even thoroughly discussed with the board members before you made it an item on the agenda. As I understand, this is your right to do

036so as a chairman, but it's reckless to move forward in a delicate matter without counsel. And this is a delicate matter. Why did this issue become so pressing? Why was this so important that it had to trump education issues like curriculum and o overcrowded schools? Board members, please vote against this issue and responsibly discuss it. Also, invite representation from all parties that would be impacted by this decision and have conversation before making such significant decisions. Thank you for the time allotted. Thank you, Mr. Kellum. Our next speaker is Katherine Ring. Katherine Katherine Ring. Next speaker is Katherine Ring. Katherine Ring. Ring. I'm seeing R I N G is what I have in front of me. Thank you. That's correct. Okay. I am here in support of the motion to expand the Prince County Public Schools

037non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity. I have lived in the Manasses Prince County area continuously since 1969, almost half a century. My children attended public schools here and graduated. I have done my share of community volunteer work. Not only have I lived here, I worked in both state institutions and a couple of private companies in our county. As a retired HR professional, I know firsthand that you cannot attract a quality, highly educated and skilled workforce or citizens if you create barriers to safe environments for living, learning, and working. Most especially if parents think their children could be victimized in schools for a lack of stated protection policy. As pointed out in the last session, most of the larger institutions in our county are already um enforcing these expanded non-discrimination powers, policies and

038powers. Why would you want to wait for a court to have to make these decisions for us? I'm sorry. I lived through the segregation area. I know that people say the government cannot tell you how to behave like good people. They can and they should. This is a correct policy to establish for and in our schools. I expect the school board to act now to make it happen in a safe and respectful manner. Will it be so? Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Danica Rome. Danica. Going once, going twice. Danica. Our next speaker is Bill Hosp. Mr. Hosp for old time sake your time will start when you say Aquan District we have new microphones since you left. We waited until you retired before we got new microphones. Just so you know. Mr.

039Chairman, you had my introduction memorized. So in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, let me deliver it in Spanish. Senor President Escar de la Dr. Waltz Senor McGawan is Bill Hospion IoT and El Distrito Aquan. What has changed is that we have joined the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. And tonight, I'm speaking for our new union. It's good to see all of you again. I had no plans to come back after my term with PWFT, but tonight my hope is to help solve a problem rather than complain or make it worse. These suggestions are offered with the intent that everyone involved in these meetings should get home at a more reasonable hour. First, this board showed great wisdom in setting a public hearing and work sessions on the budget at separate meeting times.

040You can extend this practice to public hearings on agenda items that draw sufficient response. You know, when you put them on the agenda that people will come. The goal would be to get citizen input on these issues at public hearings and reduce duplications with citizen comment time. Another suggestion would be to recess closed sessions at 700 p.m. when necessary and reconvene them after adjourning the open session. This would have the effect of respecting the time of citizens in attendance and probably improving their attitudes as well. Finally, you might consider following the example of the United States House of Representatives and putting time limits on the remarks of members. They do this in order to keep the legislation moving and work their way through their agenda. This would not be intended to limit discussion, but rather

041to focus it. Having to beat the clock has helped me at citizen comment time, and speaking as a former debater and high school debate coach, I can assure you that the discipline that goes with a time limit has the effect of keeping everyone on track. This practice could even improve staff presentations and apply to question time similar to the way congressional committees work. You want to work smarter, not harder, and that is the purpose of these suggestions. Elected officials tiptoe through minefields. Politics is how policy is made. Trust me, I've been doing this one way or another since 1962. Please consider these suggestions. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Hosp. Our next speaker is Mario Reynoso. Mario. Good evening, members of the school board and residents of Prince William County. My name is Mario

042Reynoso and I am a proud graduate of Garfield High School's class of 2009. I'm also a proud Latino and I'm also a proud gay man. I'm here to speak in favor of the changes to Prince William and County Schools anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies. Many people here will continue to speak about a need to wait until the courts or Congress can figure this out, but our children can't wait. Countless studies have shown that bullying against LGBT students has a higher than average for LGBT students and they are more twice or thrice to commit suicide. These issues impact us all because we are a community. And yes, our disagreements over things may have us, you know, continuously bicker. But the one thing that unifies us all is concerns about our children. LGBT people have a vested interest

043in this. Our children are sometimes LGBT. And our community has made a promise to all of our children that we would do whatever it took to encourage them to learn and grow and to love themselves. And the job of the school board is to enshrine protections over the aspects of themselves that make them unique. Being a Latino in the '9s growing up in Kohl's Elementary, I knew how it was like to be different because believe me, I was the only one in the entire school. And I remember there's being so much confusion about how to handle a Spanish speaking student. So my teachers decided to keep me away from the English speaking students and to just just make disregard me, turn a blind eye to me. I feel like in a way if we continue

044to, you know, put, you know, ignore the situation, we're doing the same thing of what happened to me in elementary school. These kids need protections now. Too many kids are committing suicide every day because of anti-LGBT bullying. And at the end of the day, this is all about the children. From a child in kindergarten all the way to the senior in high school, they are all our responsibilities. And if every single child that commits suicide over bullying, that is on us. That is a failure on our part. The tides of change are here. The acceptance rates of LGBT folks is higher than ever. But we have to update our policies to ensure that student pro is protected from anti-LGBT bullying. And yes, the Prince William County confirms if it's LGBT students that their role in

045the school system as diverse as Prince William County will be valued. Their measure will ensure to everyone from our students to future teachers that Prince William County Public Schools is providing a world-class education and will protect their students and teachers from any form of discrimination and bullying. Do the right thing. protect our children. Thank you. We're gonna jump back to speakers. I got word that Danica Rome is here. Danica, you're your time. You were called earlier. I know we have some people coming from the atrium, so this may happen a little bit today. Um Danica, it's your time at the podium. Hi, my name is Danica Rome. I'm a lifelong resident of the county part of Manasses. I'm a transgender woman. I'm a journalist. and I'm a parent and I'm here today for the second

046time in two weeks to ask you guys to please support this policy. Please do something today. Get something accomplished. I didn't prepare a speech today because I want to speak to you guys from the heart on this week. You already know the legal stance on this. I I gave you guys all binders last week or or two weeks ago. But I want you guys to think about the rhetoric that was used. Think about just the way that the people who opposed this policy talked about transgender people two weeks ago. Think about how they talked about transgender children. They applauded a man who called us perverse sexual sinners. That was in a controlled setting of a school board. What do you think it's like being in school? What do you think it's like actually having to

047experience that sort of rhetoric every day? I know how that feels. I've been there. I've done that. And that was before I even came out. We heard people say the phrase, "A boy who calls himself a girl." As if in an effort to discredit who we actually are at our authentic self. We heard people say gender confused as if we don't know who we are. Declaring yourself transgender is the biggest act of certainty I have ever taken in my life. And I can tell you it is the same for child after child after child in the school system who has come out. And there are dozens who have just among trans students. You just heard from a gay man. People come out in Prince William County schools frequently. But at the same time, the ability

048to do it can be frightening when we don't think that we have the adequate protections in place to guard us. I want you to consider this for a moment. When someone tells me, "I'm gender confused." When someone tries to tell a child that they don't know who they are, they are trying to strip our identity from us. They were trying to tell us that no, all the things that make you qualify under 302.85 on the DSM5, all the things that make gender dysphoria what it is. They try to discredit that. They try to tell us that the outlying opinion of one doctor is more important than the entire consensus of the medical the American medical association, the American psychological association and all of my doctors who treat who have treated me with the WPATH standards

049of care. And to anyone who ever denies the identity of a transgender person, let me tell you this. The government recognizes me as a woman. My boyfriend recognizes me as his girlfriend and most importantly my daughter calls me her mom. Thank you. Pass this act. Our next speaker is Callie Dal Ripple. Callie, my name is Cali Darrile. I'm 16 years old and I live here in Oakville, which is the district that is not being represented with a vote on this school board tonight. I I am standing here right now not only to represent myself but thousands of other children here in Prince William County and especially young ladies who will be directly affected by the vote that you are about to take here tonight. It is shocking to me that a decision of this magnitude

050is being made for all public school children in Prince William on the matter of transgender bathroom policy, which would force boys and girls to give up their privacy to accommodate a very small group of transgender children. In America, we do not write laws to privilege a minority when it will simultaneously infringe upon the rights of a majority, especially on a right to safety. The transgender community is in fact a minority. And yes, we are so empathetic to their desires and needs because they are still my brothers and sisters. But there is definitely a safe and simple alternative that does not endanger the majority of children in Prince William County schools. Yes, again, if this policy was enforced, it would be dangerous. It is certain that people with bad intentions will take advantage of being allowed

051to use whichever bathroom they please. And girls such as myself will be the victims. I could be the girl who's harassed in the bathroom by a teenage boy who I am physically incapable of of escaping because he took advantage of his new privilege of using the bathroom of his choice knowing that there is absolutely nothing that I could do to stop him. I could be the girl who's taken advantage of by a grown man after school hours who used his rights to completely violate mine. I could be the little girl who's trapped in the bathroom and can't escape for or call for help and is abused because I'm not protected and my right to safety was disregarded. I could be the child, transgender or not, who will be bullied, mistreated, harassed, and hurt by this

052policy. I could be the one. And whether I can raise my voice loud enough to be heard or not, nothing can take back what would happen to me at the hands of people who exploit this policy. If you vote to amend the existing one, I could be the girl forced to be to give up my privacy and integrity and be made to undress and shower in a locker room with boys and grown men, school board members. If my dignity as a young woman and the dignity of every single child in Prince William County is not treated with the dis respect that it deserves, amending this policy will place us in a dangerous situation. And I implore you on behalf of all the girls and boys in our county to vote no to this amendment. Thank

053you. Thank you. Our okay our next speaker our next speaker is Elise and Maline Vials. Elise and Maline Vials. Our next speaker and before Elise and Meline before your time gets going. I'm going to call up the next 10 speakers. So these next 10 speakers, please come take your seat. Don't get started yet. You have one second. Please come please come take your seat in the front row. The next 10 speakers are Bob Weir, David Hish, Andrea Miller, Joshua Miller, Gabriella Miller, Don Shaw, Leah Dennis, Miriam Dennis, Hannah Dennis, and Liberty Dennis. Getting your warning here for the on deck circle of the next 10 speakers after that are Carla Tibs. I'm sorry, we make sure everyone hears us, please. We need some We need quiet in the room, please. The next 10 speakers after

054that are Carla Tibs, John Mardle, Bridget Mardle, Elizabeth Mardle, Brendan Mardle, Rebecca Anderson, Tanya Halfley, David Shrock, Benjamin Perves, and Caleb Dalton. Those 10 speakers are on deck. Just give you fair warning on what's coming up. Um, and then Elise and Meline, your time begins now. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the board, and fellow citizens, my name is Ellie Viles, and this is my sister Meline. We are here to plead with you not to change the current bathroom and locker room policy. We have been taught to love all people, regardless of their color, race, religion, creed, or orientation. All people have dignity, and certainly there are people who have needs that require specific types of intervention and assistance. But the people you are trying to serve can be helped in ways that don't violate

055our privacy and safety. When our friends with peanut allergies eat lunch, they do so at a separate table. The school does not ask the majority of students to vacate the cafeteria simply because four students have different needs. When a student doesn't have the academic or intellectual capability to keep up with their peers, the school does not halt all learning until that student catches up. They are placed in a different class where they can be taught separately or at a different rate. In each case, accommodations are made for the students but not at the expense of the vast majority. And these are examples of conditions that can be medically diagnosed and quantified. It is common sense that the good of the majority not be compromised because of very few. In this case, our very basic rights

056of privacy and safety should be safeguarded. It defies all logic that that a b biological male be able to share a bathroom, much less a locker room with me. I do not feel comfortable. I do not feel safe. I have already heard of it happening in places in the country where groups of boys are having are hanging out in the girls restroom simply because they can. This cannot stand. There will be dire consequences on many levels. We are competitive swimmers and such we spend almost every day in a locker room before and after practices and meets. Are you truly going to ask us to share the bathroom and change clothes with people who are not biologically female? Truth is not determined by a democratic vote. The truth is the truth regardless of whether one likes

057it or not. And a person with two X chromosomes will always be female. And a person with XY chromosomes will always be male regardless of how one feels. In this case of gender fluidity, the privacy and safety of the majority of people must not be violated. Please, please vote to keep our most private spaces gender specific. You have been elected to represent the majority. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Our next speaker is Bob Weir, Mr. Weir. Evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Bob Weir, 6853 St. Paul Drive, Hay Market. I apologize if I'm a little cranky tonight. I was at the McCort Center until 11:00 last night watching the board of supervisors actually deliberate and conduct county business. something this body has done precious little of over the past nine months. It's

058interesting to note that last night and at every board of supervisors meeting that I'm aware of, the board has allowed every resident who wished to speak to be afforded that opportunity prior to actions by the board, be it at citizens time or as part of a public hearing regardless the time required to accommodate all. Again, a circumstance that is not replicated here. This board's tenure has been marked by hours and hours of discussion and debate under an everchanging set of rules. Discussion and debate over school names, writing wrongs, B ballfield use, high school principles, and now a poorly thoughtout policy change that appears more political ploy than genuine improvement. Others tonight will voice their opinions on that particular matter. I will take the opportunity to give you a larger 40,000 ft view. As I noted,

059this board has seemingly spent a prepundonderance of its meeting time addressing issues that have little to do with the education of the county's children or the conditions they learn in. Although I seldom agree with Miss Jesse, I find it unconscionable that she was forced to defer three educationbased agenda items at the last meeting, largely as a result of the three circus orchestrated by the chair. I suspect I speak for a majority when I suggest you cease the political gamesmanship and begin exercising the oversight and administrative functions tasked you by the electorate. The school division's academic performance visav the rest of Northern Virginia does nothing for Prince Williams image and your performance to date simply reinforces our standing as the laughing stock of NOVA. I say this particularly in light of last night's board meeting. For

060those unaware, and I will presume that most behind the dice fall into that category, the board initiated several changes to the county county code and zoning ordinances that will likely have a deleterious effect on the schools. I won't bore you with the details, but if adopted, those changes will result in dramatically increased enrollments in the overcrowded elementary schools in the east and the similarly overcrowded high schools in the west. Thank you very much, Mr. chairman for insisting on the lower capacity design for the next high school as these potential changes will further magnify the shortcomings as well as your lack of foresight and school board's fiscal irresponsibility. It's time to put away the social agenda and tend to the real business of the school board. The voters and more importantly the students demand and deserve

061no less. To those of you unwilling or unable to proceed accordingly, I would suggest you step down before the voters remove you. Thank you. Our next speaker is David Hish. David Hish. Our next speaker, David, are you here? Going once, going twice. David, our next speaker is Andrea Miller. Andrea, good evening. My name is Andrea Miller. I live in Notesville. As a mother of three children in Prince William County, I believe all children should be have a safe and secure environment in which to grow and learn. No child should be harmed, bullied, or discriminated against. Thank goodness there are county, state, and federal laws against such harmful practices. Schools have policies in place to protect all students and employees, and schools have advocates to help those who do feel threatened. No child should be forced

062into situations where they feel unsafe, particularly in an environment that should foster self-esteem and confidence. Therefore, I urge you to say no to the amendments in policy 60. The amendments would not solve problems. They would create problems, lawsuits, and discord in schools. Clearly, whatever Prince William schools are doing right now is working as there have been no recorded acts of discrimination towards transgender kids in Prince William County schools in the past 5 years. While amendment to the policy 60 is supposedly a non-discrimination amendment to be inclusive of all students, it would in fact discriminate against and exclude the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of many of the children who do identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. Our sons who are boys and our daughters who were born girls ought to have and

063indeed require the dignity and respect to continue to use bathrooms and locker rooms. specifically allocated to to their anatomical and biological gender and where they feel safe. The planned amendment would strip our sons and daughters of the dignity and respect to use these bathrooms and locker rooms where they feel safe and unthreatened. Board members, consider, if you will, coming here tonight and being forced to undress and shower in front of each other. Consider your wives, daughters, granddaughters being forced to undress, undress and shower with any or all the men and boys in this room. I urge you, do not force our children into situations where they would feel unsafe, insecure, and threatened. Mr. Chairman, your compromise is a backdoor approach that will eventually lead to gender to transgender access to all bathrooms and locker rooms

064through lawsuits. Mr. Chairman, the proposed amendments have nothing to do with marriage benefits. We all know how you feel on this issue. In May 2016, you said, and I quote, "I don't have any problem with any student or employee using the bathroom of their choice." Unquote. Mr. Chairman, we do not want your 21st century if it means sacrificing our children to an agenda contrary to their health and safety. Board members, do the right thing. Protect our children, too. vote no to the amendment to policy 60. Now I ask everyone who agrees with me to please stand up and show your support. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Joshua Miller. Joshua. Joshua Miller. Good evening, members of the school board. Mr. Chairman, I am Joshua Miller. I'm glad we're all gathered here tonight to

065discuss this issue of identity. I have been for a while struggling with an identity problem myself and I would like to take the opportunity to tell everyone, my mother, my friends about my identity. I identify as a king and because I identify as a king, I'm insulted when people do not address me as such. Mr. Chairman, does this make sense? No, this does not make sense. I am not the only one to share this opinion. I have with me here today 2,000 petitions of people against policy 60. 2,000 people who do not want this policy. Mr. Mr. Chairman, there are not 2,000 people in the city of Noville. Do not misrepresent the people who elected you to these positions. Do not misrepresent us. Speaking of Noville, speaking of misrepresentation, I am appalled that my friend,

066that my neighbor, Mr. Gil Trenum, is not represented here tonight. Mr. Chairman, is he not here because you know he will vote against you? Is he not here because you know he represents the biggest district in Prince William County and you know that they oppose this issue. Ladies and gentlemen of the school board, do not misrepresent the people that elected you to these positions. Vote against policy [Applause] 60. Our next speaker is Gabriella Miller. Gabriella, hello. I'm Gabriella Miller and uh I would like to say that if I went to the bathroom right now, right out there and I saw a man in the bathroom, I would feel violated and I would turn around and not enter that bathroom no matter what. Even if I had to go to the bathroom so bad that I

067peed my pants, I would not enter that bathroom. I would No, it would No. It would freak me out even more than public speaking. Thank you. Our next speaker is Don Shaw. Mr. Shaw. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. My name is Don Shaw and my my information is on file. Five words: sexual orientation and gender identity. A 2012 study conducted by Columbia University assessed students attending public schools and found that as the proportion of school districts that adopted inclusive anti-bullying non-discrimination policies increased, rates of pastear suicide attempts among LGBT students decreased. They also found that peer victimization of all students was less likely to occur in counties with inclusive anti-bullying and non-discrimination policies. race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, child birth or other related medical conditions, age, marital status, veteran status,

068disability. You, as a school board, currently forbid discrimination against anyone in Prince William County schools on these bases. What makes LGBT students and staff unworthy of your protections? You employ approximately 10,700 people. There are over 88,000 students. Statistically speaking, there are over 3,300 faculty, staff, and students who would be directly and positively affected by this policy update with no negative impact to others. 3,300. At the 2016 Human Rights Campaign National Dinner, civil rights hero John, Congressman John Lewis said, "When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to stand up, speak up, and speak out." Nearly a fifth of students are physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation. The average GPA for students who were phys frequently physically harassed because of their sexual orientation was half a grade lower than

069that of other students. That's not my idea of a worldclass education. This is the next phase in ensuring everyone enjoys equality of rights. This is the civil rights issue of the 21st century. Would you have agreed with the bus driver in Montgomery, Alabama, and told Rosa Parks to sit in the back of the bus because you needed more time to study the issue? Would you have agreed with the principal in Topeka, Kansas, and turned away 8-year-old Linda Brown simply because her presence allegedly violated the privacy of the other students? Bishop Desmond Tutu said, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. Which side are you on?" Thank you. Our next speaker is Leah Dennis. Leah. Good evening, Dr. Waltz, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the board.

070The clerk has my address on record. I have four children in Prince William County schools. My son is in kindergarten. I have three daughters in fifth, seventh, and eighth grades. I am here to urge you to vote no tonight on the policy 60 update. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I am commanded many things, but the greatest of them is to love. I've always taught my children to show love. Society confuses disagreement with hate. It is truly possible to disagree with someone and yet still love them. My children are friends with kids following all different religions. Two of their friends are transgender. We take these kids with us to King's Dominion to hike at the parks and to swim in the lakes. When any child is with me, I love them and I care for

071them like they are my own. Do we disagree with some of their life choices? Yes. Do we still love and care for each other? Absolutely. Neither I nor my children feel safe or comfortable with the idea of using restrooms, changing clothes, or sleeping in a room on field trips with a person of the opposite biological sex. Just because a boy feels like a girl, that does not take away his boy body parts. Allowing boys into the girls restrooms and locker rooms will make my three girls feel unsafe, uncomfortable, and attacks their modesty and dignity. On one hand, you, the board, have set dress code rules for the students to ensure their modesty while they are at school, and now you're possibly telling them to go ahead and completely undress in front of boys. That doesn't

072make any sense. Since there have been no cases that I've heard of recorded in the last 10 years regarding bullying of LGBT student staff in the Prince William Schools, why is this policy change even needed? I feel like it's a solution in search of a non-existent problem. By adopting this new policy, it also includes any visiting guest of the schools, an employee, construction workers, family members, and friends who are there for sports events or concerts. That grown adult will be permitted to go in whatever restroom or locker room that they identify with. That is not safe for our students. If you pass this new policy, I know I do not stand alone in saying that I will demand that the school provide a safe and separate restroom and locker room for each of my four

073children every time they have to use a restroom or a locker room so they are not exposed to the possible danger, certain discomfort, and lack of dignity and modesty that will be caused from using these rooms with people of the opposite biological sex. As it stands now, this current policy seems to be working. Why are we trying to fix something that is not broken? I thank you for your time. Thank you. Our next speaker is Miriam Dennis. Miriam. Miriam Dennis. Miriam. Good evening, Dr. Waltz, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the board. I'm coming to you as a student in Prince William County who will be directly influenced by the passing of this policy. I am friends with transgender students who are now being helped on a case-byase basis. My friends feel comfortable with this

074setup and there have been no bullying issues with their lifestyle choice. We are all still great friends even though we disagree on the LGBT lifestyle. I do not feel comfortable with my transgender friends changing in the same room with me as I would feel extremely embarrassed. It would just be plain awkward. Besides, kids get in trouble at school for not complying with our Prince William County dress code. If our tank tops are not three fingers wide, and our shorts and skirts are not past fingertip length, then we are forced to change into something more modest. If you pass this policy, why do we even have such a strict dress code? One of my transgender friends mother is not even okay with this new policy that's being approached. She does not want her daughter changing in

075a room full of boys. As a concerned student, I came tonight to try to persuade you to vote no and to put this pol and to not put this policy into action. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Our next speaker is Hannah Dennis. Hannah. Hello everyone. My name is Hannah Dennis and I'm a seventh grade student at Saunders Middle School. Ever since I was little, my my mom has taught me to be kind and respectful to everyone, no matter what race, religion, or beliefs they may have. I respect them, even if we don't believe all the same things. If a boy could just walk into my bathroom or locker room, I would feel violated and embarrassed. I would not feel comfortable ticking off my clothes with the man in the room. I respect their

076I respect their rights to believe what they choose, but I also expect to feel safe and keep my dignity while changing clothes for PE class. Do you really think a class of seventh grade girls or any for that matter would like it if a boy just walked into the locker room and started taking off his clothes? No matter what he believes, he still has all boy all boy parts. All of his girls would feel violated. This also goes for the boys locker room and restrooms. Most guys would not like it if girls started to go into their locker rooms to change clothes. If you have a child, or even if you do not, would you honestly want the opposite gender to have access to their facilities? Um, also for sports teams, I find it very

077unfair, especially at my school. We have some of the hardest working sports teams ever, like the girls track and basketball teams. They work their butts off all year. But now, a boy But if you pass this rule, I policy, a boy with a man's body can now join the team and easily take away their chance of even making it on. I believe in Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and Savior. I need him because I'm a sinner the same as everyone else in this room. I will not treat someone else badly just because they are different. This is why I do not think this policy should be passed. Thank you. Our next speaker is Liberty Dennis. Liberty and Liberty. Mr. Iman, can you help her with the podium? Liberty, before you get going, you have

078you have a few seconds here. I'm going to I'm going to call the next um the next 10 speakers up. So, I'm going to ask that the Liberty, you can stand. Um the next I'm going to ask the front row be cleared here, please. If you've already spoken um and if Leah, if you want to wait for Liberty, you're more than welcome to. right there. You don't have to leave your daughter at the podium. Um, our next 10 speakers that can come up to the front are Carla Tibs, John Mardle, Bridget Mardle, Elizabeth Mardle, Brendan Mardell, Rebecca Anderson, Tanya Halfley, David Shrock, Benjamin Perves, and Caleb Dalton. getting the warning on the next 10 speaker. The on deck circle here is Shannon Austinine, Natasha Grover, Joe Downer, Melinda Abramovich, Patrick Fucci, Kelly Wala Wasala, Colobby

079Garmin, Alyssa Harvey, Annie Garmin, and Thomas Dodson. Those those last 10, you can still hold on tight. I just want to give you a heads up that that you'll be coming up. And our last our 20th speaker here, scheduled speaker is Liberty. And you now have the podium. Liberty. Hello members of the board. My name is Libby. I am 10 years old. I don't support this new gender role. I'm a Christian. And if I'm going to respect their comforts, I would like them to respect my privacy. I would feel violated if some boy comes into the girl's bathroom or locker room. What if I came up here and stripped my bra and underwear? Would that make you feel uncomfortable? That is how I would feel if a boy came into the girls' bathroom or locker

080room. Thank you. Thank you, Liberty. Our next speaker is Carla Tibs. Carla, are you able to make it up here? Carla Tibs. Okay, thank you. Let me just mark it accordingly. Our next speaker after that is John Mardle. John, good evening. I'm John Mardle, a resident of the unrepresented Brentsville district. Tonight, you've heard several people ask you to do the right thing. I'm asking you not only do the right thing, but the common sense thing, and to do what the voters, your constituents, and ultimately your bosses want. Mr. Sawyers, you've made it very clear, for whatever reason, this change is a top priority of yours. Now, you've asked for help on this issue from people inside Prince William County as well as you've solicited people from outside the county. I've seen that publicly posted. You

081were quoted in May on WTOP as saying, quote, "I don't have a problem with any student or any employee using the bathroom of their choice." So, you've made no attempt to hide where you stand on this despite the what the citizens of this county want. When you were elected less than a year ago, you received less than a majority of the vote, 37%. a far cry from a mandate, but that's how you're acting like it's a mandate. The only mandate each and one of you have is to follow the citizens and protect our children and educate them properly. Mr. Sawyers, when you um when you ran for office, you mentioned nothing about this being one of your top five issues in terms of priorities, but now it appears that it's not the children and their

082education you're concerned about. So, even while you've offered a quote unquote compromise to diffuse the voters and said this is not a quote bathroom bill, I don't think there's any doubt in anyone's mind that this is truly your number one priority and that you've lost sight of what your mission is. You're all called and were elected to represent the citizens of Prince William County, not Fairfax, not Arlington, not Washington DC, to do the right thing for the children of Prince William County. Again, Mr. Sawyers, you've made mention numerous times about how Prince William County needs to get into the 21st century. I'm sure your fellow board members, citizens back here, and those that aren't even here appreciate the fact you think we're a bunch of backwards country folks. There's absolutely nothing backwards about promoting dignity

083and respecting privacy. Nothing. So, I fear you I fear you've lost sight of the mission of educating the children of Prince William County. You're focused on finding a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. You're in fact creating problems because there are lawsuits out there already. You've rushed into this without any sort of study by the county school staff. It's crystal clear and the facts back it up. This is not an issue. There have been no discrimination complaints filed by employees or students regarding this. We keep hearing that bullying is an issue. Yet, there are no numbers, statistics, or facts to back this up. It's all conjecture at this point. So, what are some of the facts? There have been no complaints filed. The American College of Pediatrics warns that such policies actually do more

084harm than good. The issue is in the courts and we don't need legal wos. Researchers from John's Hopkins and other esteemed institutions raised doubts about about such policies and the people of Prince William are not asking for this. So again, we don't need this. Your proposal, your compromise indicates that you're punting it to the superintendent and that he give you're going to give him guidance, but it's not until the end of the school year that he needs to report back to you. Thank you. Vote no. do the common sense thing. Our next speaker is Bridget Mardle. Bridget. Bridget Mardle. Good evening. My name is Bridget Mardell and I'm from Brensville district. So I have five issues I'd like to discuss. The first one is no Brensville, no vote. I have great respect for Gil Trenum.

085I'm very proud of him and the service that he's given. And I think it is really a disgrace that we have no representation on an issue as important as this. So we from Brentsville really do deserve a voice before you you vote on this. Number two, um I would like to thank Miss Rston, Miss Jesse, and uh Mr. Wilk. I was reading in the comments from some of the articles as well as I reviewed the tape from the se September 7th meeting and you either spoke whether it was in the articles or here uh that you were really saying that we need to wait on this. We really need to to look at this issue without rushing and so I I thank you for that because I truly do believe that you have our children's

086interests at heart. So I appreciate that. Uh number three um Danica who spoke I kind of threw this in. Um, I feel for you. I agree. I don't think that that you should be marginalized with your comments and and I do they were very moving. I I was very moved by them. But I have to reiterate this discussion is about our children's safety. I do not feel that my my children are threatened by any transgenders entering the bathroom. That is actually not my concern. My concern is that they would be threatened by I have seven girls, by the way, so you know, I'm big on the girl thing. Uh, I'm I feel that they would be threatened by boys walking into the bathroom while they're in there, and that's not fair to them. I want

087my girls to feel safe, to feel protected. Number four, Mr. Sawyers, you're really under fire tonight, and I apologize for that, but I do question your motive for pushing this policy so quickly. I I that I really that concerns me. Are you really willing to subject our children to this experiment? You know, there's no re no need to do that. Let's wait and see how how things play out in the courts. And that brings me to um there since there are no documented cases of discrimination, Prince William County, I ask that you vote no to policy 060. What's being proposed is essentially a sentence change to the to the non-discrimination policy with no clear indication of how you are going to implement that. So I ask that you really take the time with this and

088come up with a good concrete policy if you are going to change it so that we all know what that is. Having things done quietly and and as my husband said by the way he's the heavy I'm the happy. So as you as he said you know punting it I wasn't going to use that word is really not something that helps us to decide whether this is something that is good for our children or not. So again please vote no. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Elizabeth Mardle. Elizabeth, Mr. Iman, Mr. Iman, if you could help. That's no worries. I would do it, but it would take me longer to get around. So, thank you. Hi, my name is Lizzie Mardle. I'm 14 years old and I live in the Brentsville district. There

089are some spaces that girls go to because we feel safe there. Bathrooms, locker rooms, and even overnight sleepovers are some of these places. I'm against policy 06 06 06 060 because it would eliminate these safe spaces. My privacy matters, my younger sister's privacy matters. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Brendan Mardle. Brendan. Uh, hi. My name is Brendan Mardo. I'm 15 and I live in the Brentsville district. Um, I'm going to read a quote from a transgender woman. I am a transgender woman and a parent, but I totally reject this law. It's a law that allows for any man to be able to say he's a woman and access women's spaces. I personally think there should be a separate space for trans or anyone where they can access. And at the same time,

090it protects trans safety and it also protects the safety uh of anyone, especially women and children. At a time where so many sexual assaults go unreported, we're telling them that their boundaries don't matter. When they say no, people won't listen. They'll be blamed for being uncomfortable, I think it's time that we care for women and children, that we care for the concerns of women and children, care for the safety of women and children, and passing this law is not the way to do it. I have seven sisters and I feel like this just endanger endangers them. So when you vote, please think of my sisters and their safety. Thank you. Thank you, Brendan. Our next speaker is Rebecca Anderson. Rebecca, thank you Mr. Iman. Yes. Hi, I'm Rebecca Anderson and my address is on record

091with the clerk. I have a wonderful husband who's also a PWCS teacher and we have two children, one of whom attends kindergarten here. My husband and I sing in our church chancel choir and we direct our church children's choir together. I've been teaching elementary general music in Prince William County schools since completing graduate school in 2006. Last school year, I was nominated for Washington Post teacher of the year and I was one of the very first recipients of the PWCS care award, which stands for culturally aware and responsive educator. When I was in elementary school, I had a schoolmate named Kelsey. I always admired her because of her personality and for how she was true to herself. More often than not, people mistook her for a boy because of her short hair and because of

092the way she dressed. When Kelsey was in middle school, in the lady's restroom, students yelled at her because she was in the wrong bathroom. And in 8th grade, in an effort to fit in with her peers, Kelsey began to grow her hair and dressed differently. On the last day of 8th grade, Kelsey died by suicide. When I was in high school, I only knew of one gay person who went to school with me. And since then, I've discovered that actually quite a number of my high school peers were LGBTQ. And coming out on social media, many of them said that if anyone in high school had found out about their sexual gender or sexual orientation or gender identity while they were there, they would have also considered suicide. Now, in my 11th year of teaching,

093I've taught thousands of elementary school students, a number of whom, in some way or another remind me of my friend Kelsey or of my high school friends when I knew them back in elementary school. I'm very cognizant of pro protecting my classroom as a safe space for any child, but equally for LGBTQ students. One of my favorite former students is a girl who's often mistaken for a boy, and she's one of the sweetest people I know, a hard worker, and a great musician. I learned so much from her when she when I taught her in my classroom this year. This particular former student is in eighth grade, which is the same year that we lost Kelsey, and I pray for her every day. I strongly urge you to vote yes on the necessary change for

094tonight. There are talented teachers who look at our current policy and decide not even to apply here. There are employees whose students excitedly ask them about their weekend and they have to say that they caught the newest movie with their roommate instead of with their significant other. There are LGBTQ students who desperately reach out to teachers when they're having a bad day and would benefit greatly from hearing a teacher say, you know, I remember when I was your age and I went through something similar and it gets better and look at me now. I'm a teacher and let me tell you, the pay it is super. And there are employees like me who could mention my great husband and awesome kids or who could allow who could allow you to continue to assume that I

095am just a straight ally or I could take this moment to tell you that I myself identify as pansexual. As an employee who proudly serves PWCS every day, I urge you to vote yes. But as an advocate for all students, I beg you to vote yes because in some cases protecting our students is literally a matter of life and death. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Tanya Hafley. Tanya. I'm Tja Hathley and my address is on record. Good evening, school board members and chairman and superintendent Waltz. I'm here to propose that you halt the vote on any form of a change to the non-discrimination policy 060 until we as a community can understand what legal and social implications this change will have on our school system. I'm a parent of former and current

096Prince William County students. I'm also a former teacher in Prince William County. And in June, um, I learned through one of my friends about the US Department of Justice and Education's position. So, I emailed you guys on the school board and I got two responses. One from Miss Williams, thank you. Stating that she did not believe in discriminating against any student, including transgender students. And the other one was from Mr. Walt's office stating that it is was a sightbased decision. Well, I consider myself a pretty active and informed member of this community. And I was stunned by an email that I'd received earlier this month from a friend stating that the school board had wanted an immediate change to this policy. That was the first week of September that I received that email. Many of

097your constituents have signed the position, the petition that you have in front of you. I just started that petition last week. So, um there's not a lot on there. Not anywhere near the 2,00. But many of these are your constituents have signed this petition and they wanted to state this. This is a premature action and it should be postponed until we have further invest in investigation on this issue. And as a community, we feel that you have rushed this policy and have not appropriately notified our community about this proposal or its ramifications. This proposal is too explosive for you to be or for this to be irresponsibly handled. Please consider postponing this change until all these implications can be investigated. If you read through some of these comments, you'll understand that there are very strong

098emotions evoked by this. We teach our children to understand a problem. We teach them to gather the information about the problem and possible solutions through thorough investigations from reliable and contrasting sources. We we ask them to formulate a proposed solution and see if the outcome of the solution is reasonable. I ask, have you as a school board done this? As a community, we should have the opportunity to address this issue and be conscientious conscientious problem solvers. Thank you. Our next speaker is David Shrock. David Mr. Chairman, school board members, Dr. Waltz, thank you for your time tonight. I want to tell you a story of an eighth grader in a Virginia public school who was bullied for an entire year. In sixth grade, this boy had surgery to repair one of his testicles. Two years

099later, dozens of his classmates found out and began to call him one nut. until he moved to another school. He faced the daily humiliation of this name calling. I bring up the student to ask a very simple question. What policy could have prevented this bullying? Would it be a policy targeting the non-discrimination of students who have had genital surgery? Or would a general policy against bullying be more effective? Would the changes in proposal 60 help this child? And if not, why not add more language to protect this child and every child who faces bullying? Now, this would water down the meaningful categories of age and skin color, race, sex, and religion, but it would provide protection for every special interest group in the school. The significance of your choice tonight will impact the Prince William

100County schools for more than a generation. And you can either unite the 88,000 students in Prince William County around a common vision of a world-class education and mutual respect, or you can divide these same students into 88,000 competing interest groups. As you see tonight, the parents of Prince William County want you to educate their children, not socialize them. Leave that to the parents. By contrast, political advocates of this policy want something else. What do they want? Listen to the language of the institutional memoir of 2005 Institute for Trans and Interex Activist Training. We make trans and interex issues our priority because their presence, activism, and theoretical contributions show the path to a new paradigm that will allow many bodies, sexualities, and identities to exist as those living in this world might wish to have. Mr.

101Sawyers, is that where you are leading Prince William County Schools? Is it your desire to create 88,000 different body types, sexualities, and identities? Are you going to reshape the curriculum to teach in accordance with these priorities? You've already compromised on the locker rooms recognizing that it is a problem. But you retain the Department of Education guidelines which explicitly demand such unregulated access. Members of the school board, instead of protecting a few students with this policy, why not continue to protect all students with policies against bullying and education about respect? In the last 5 years, there's not been a single reported incident of transgender harassment. And so I wonder why the chairman is not publicly commending his administrators and teachers for their care of these students. Instead, you are calling the administrators you are calling the

102administrators to solve the problems that you are creating. You are putting this hastily prepared, poorly communicated, self-contradictory policy change on the superintendent's desk, telling him to figure it out. Mr. Sawyers, whatever you gain politically by this, it comes at a high cost. fracturing 88,000 students and leading thousands of employees away from their primary task of education. Thank you. School board members, please vote no. Our next speaker is Benjamin Perves. Benjamin Benjamin. Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, Dr. Waltz. My name is Ben Pervvis. I'm a county resident and my address is on file with the clerk. The proposed revision to policy 60 is a violation of our children's fundamental right to physical privacy and modesty. No child should ever be asked to undress before a member of the opposite biological sex or to

103share a bedroom or bed with the opposite biological sex. This policy is foolish and wrong. Now, a compromise has been proposed to this revision in which Dr. Waltz would be instructed to not change the current regulations and practices for bathrooms and locker rooms. The board may specifically address this at a later date once it's satisfied with the guidance and or rulings provided by courts required by law. There's a few glaring problems with this. First, to leave things as they are is insufficient. As in at least one of our elementary schools staff in their staff meeting, teachers have already been told not to intervene if a child enters the bathroom of the opposite sex. This compromise does not guarantee our children's right to privacy. Second, to adopt this policy puts us on a path to opening

104our children's bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers. We should avoid this path. Third, this compromise that has been suggested does not address overnight accommodations on school trips. So, this compromise essentially says no to bathrooms, but yes to bedrooms. No to bathrooms, but yes to bedrooms. If this is intentional, the logic here is a mystery. If it is an oversight and the compromise needs further revision to include overnight accommodations, it might be undergoing further revision as I speak. That's only illustrative of how this proposed change has been rushed without sufficient thought and another reason why there should be no vote tonight. This compromise is woefully insufficient to mend the breach of trust this proposal has caused. Then there's the question of pronouns. Will the policy require one to use preferred pronouns to affirm gender dysphoria as per

105the guidance from the Department of Education? To put this requirement on staff or students is to require one to verbally affirm progressive sexual ethics regardless of one's convictions. This would be forced speech violating one's conscience, freedom of speech, and religious freedom. Do we ever require and force speech in this country in the land of the free? Then there's the urgency to rush this policy which appears to be related to Gil Trenum's empty seat. Because of these concerns, I ask you to vote no on this rushed policy change. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Caleb Dalton. Caleb, you're our next speaker. But Kayla, before you get going here, I'm going to call up the next round of people here before you get going. So, hold on one second. The front row looks relatively clear.

106So, these next 10 speakers, uh, please come on up. Uh, Shannon Augustine, uh, Natasha Grover, Joe Downer, Melinda Abramovich, Patricia, uh, sorry, Patrick Fucci, Kelly Wala, Colobby Garmin, Alyssa Harvey, Annie Garmin, and Thomas Dodson. The next 10 speakers after that, giving you the warning here. So those 10 speakers, please come up. The next 10 speakers will be Bill Petra, Philip Wilkins, Caleb O'Rae, Harry Wiggins, Riley O' Casey, Enoch Prada, Jesse Lightfoot, Tae Gupta, Janette Wilson, and Nicholas Naggerie. Those will be our next 10 speakers. That brings us back to Mr. Dalton. Mr. Dalton, your time begins now. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the board, Dr. Waltz, uh Miss Jesse, as a as a member of your district. Mr. Chairman, it's been said politics is tricky. It cuts both ways. Every time you make a

107choice, it has unintended consequences. Giving the board the benefit of the doubt that its choice to rush this measure forward was rightly motivated and not based on mere political posturing. The unintended consequences of this measure are devastating and far outweigh the perceived inequities. To begin with, PWCS is a welcoming community. Mr. Mr. Chairman, has PWCS ever in recent history history taken adverse action against an employee because of their sexual orientation or gender identity? Public records say no. Has Prince William County ever failed to enforce on a systemic level our anti-bullying policies fairly. This is a solution in search of a problem. On the other hand, this policy recklessly rushes forward into uncharted legal territory. It exposes PWCS to legal liability. It literally exposes our children. And it deprivives Brentsville of representation on this important matter.

108And I would note, Mr. Chairman, it seems under my understanding that you are the only Brinsville resident who gets a vote on this matter. Who do these what do these unintended consequences mean for our children? The CDC estimates that one in four girls are sexually abused before they reach the age of 18. The more traumatic the abuse, the more traumatizing it is for these innocents. Exposing these girls to members of the opposite biological sex and the sanctity of the shower, their locker rooms, and their bedrooms in overnight accommodations is cruel and it is callous. Their trauma is triggered by the male anatomy they were assaulted with. That trauma is not dependent on the gender identity of the person in their bed or in their shower. They may love their trans friends but still be traumatized

109by the thought of showering with a member of the opposite biological sex. How do I know this as a man? Because as a civil rights attorney, I represent these women. I have looked into their eyes and I have seen their suffering. I recounted at the last meeting the story of my client who had whose adopted children had been assaulted and who had to pull her children out of a school they loved because of the policy like you are considering tonight. My firm represents parents and students in Minnesota and Illinois in lawsuits against schools who have violated their children's right to privacy under policies like you are considering tonight. As you know, the Virginia Supreme Court is currently hearing a case against Fairfax because of a policy like the one you consider tonight. As a quick

110side, the proposed facility guidance to the superintendent is unworkable from a legal perspective. It creates additional liability for the school district. I have represented the facts, not fear. It will be a failure of this duty if it recklessly rushes forward with policy. Our next speaker is Shannon Austinine. Shannon Shannon Augustine. Shannon. Okay. Uh, our next speaker is Natasha Grover. Tossio. Natasha. Right. Um, my name is Natasha. The clerk has my information. I am the mother of three children between the ages of three and nine years. I would like to talk about the proposed revision to policy. um 060. I am very disturbed to see the direction that school leaders are trying to take public education. This particular issue should not even be up for debate. The fact that it is reveals to me that public

111educators have lost all sense of reason and rationality. They now promote feelings over facts and delusions over reality. I have compassion for people suffering from gender dysphoria. It's not something I would wish upon anyone. The real problem here is not those very few students who are clearly suffering, but rather those adults who are supposed to be educators and voices of reason, but instead are enabling and encouraging illogical delusions and mental disorders. You cannot change your sex. You cannot be born the wrong sex. These are indisputable facts. A person can only attempt to mimic and conform to opposite sex stereotypes or gender norms. But in the end, a male will always be a boy, even if he dresses and behaves like most girls, and even if you mutilate his body. I can tell you right now

112that I have never seen a social movement as blatantly misogynistic as this latest activism to open female restrooms and locker rooms to male transgenders. Females have the right to safe spaces free from the invasion of males. An earlier speaker brought up rhetoric. Well, let's talk about the awful rhetoric being used against girls. The word girl is not a social construct. It is the word we use for a human female, particularly a young one. How dare you tell girls that their inherent femininity is all in their heads and has no basis in physical reality? Okay, this is hateful and this is a lie. Um, another thing, will there be a litmus test to determine who is a real transgender versus someone who is simply going through a phase or is trying to be manipulative for nefarious

113purposes? Of course, this is a rhetorical question. We all know the answer. Any litmus test would be discriminatory in nature, and social engineers are nothing if not consistent. So, on that note, I will be I will finish by pointing out the obvious. Not only should the school board be seriously questioning their own sanity, but they should be downright ashamed of themselves for even considering exposing vulnerable females in private areas to males. If you vote in favor of this policy revision, you are failing the female students who rely on you to protect them while they are being educated in your taxpayer funded institutions and you are failing the confused and still developing male transgender students as well. Thank you for your time and your consideration. Thank you. Our next speaker is Joe Downer. Joe Hello, my

114name is Joe Downer. Uh, my address is on file with the clerk. I'd like to thank the board for allowing me the opportunity to address you this evening with regard to the proposed policy change to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the Prince William County Public Schools non-discrimination policy. I've heard many times tonight as well as at the school board meeting two weeks ago that this proposed change would protect gay and transgender students uh and faculty from harassment and bullying. My question is then how exactly is this policy going to do this? Uh it's been stated before we already have an anti-bullying policy in place meant to protect all students and faculty from such harassment. Why then does this alleged bullying issue require another policy? If it really is an issue, then the failure

115of the first policy um should prove that pushing another will not solve the problem. We must cut to the heart of the issue. my teaching in showing compassion, empathy, and respect to those with whom we disagree. Thrusting this agenda item upon our county and rushing a vote before a calm, pointed, and level-headed discourse can be held will not produce a well-informed outcome. It is neither compassionate to those who will be directly affected by this policy change nor respectful to the citizens of this county. This proposed policy change fails to protect the privacy of all of Prince William County's children, both those who identify as transgendered and those who do not. It pretends that girls and boys biology is insignificant in matters of privacy. And finally, it imposes an ideology on our students and teachers by

116telling those who hold the belief that being male or female is inextric inextricably linked to biology that they are unwelcome in Prince William County schools. Miss Jesse, you are as a resident of the Aquan district. You are my representative. And though I have not always agreed with you politically, I have supported you because you are an educator. My wife is a is a teacher and the stories I hear sometimes about the things they have to deal with. I know that you understand that because you have dealt with those things yourself and that's why I support you. But if the board is going to be taking up these social issues, these different political issues, then I cannot support you. So I respectfully urge this board to vote no to the proposed policy update adding sexual orientation

117and gender identity to the Prince William County Schools non-discrimination policy. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Our next speaker is Melinda Abramovich. Melinda. Melinda. Melinda Abramovich. Melinda. Okay, moving on. Uh Patrick Fucci. Patrick. Thank you members of the Prince Wayne County School Board. I'm right. I'm I'm here today as a concerned parent as always a grandparent. I believe changing revising policy 060 is wrong socially, morally and virtuous virtuously for the following reasons. One is will impede upon the religious rights of Christians, Muslims and Jewish boys and girls whose respective religions will be violated. We all have anything in common. We respect the roles of men and women separately, but we also honor them to our marriages, to our devotion to life. Now, until it discriminates against girls who deserve the respect and dignity to

118use a bathroom without physical, emotional, and psychological fear. In the end, it will amount to co-et bathrooms and showers. Three, I said before, adding gender identity will potentially allow boys and girls to choose which gender bathroom, shower, and locker room to use regardless of their biological identity. Suppose next week I decide to become a girl, get dressed up as a girl because I want to go see girls, see um naked girls in high in high school locker room. It can add to pornographic addiction as well. There are many boys and girls who are either homeschooled or attend private schools who utilize Prince County schools for recreational activities. The rights of these children will be infringed upon as well. And where does it stop? Where does it stop? How about tomorrow next generation? Suppose uh someone

119has a thing with animals. You know, think about it. Gender identity, boys and girls. Where does it stop? How far do we have to sink if we have to be saved? Oh, I say students have the right to privacy and they have the right to a non-threatening envir environment. Just say no or don't say anything. Senator absentee balance if you need to. And and the last thing I have to say is, you know, we've been hearing a lot of violence lately through the ISIS and propaganda like that. People become vulnerable. We don't want to add fuel to their fire as well. They're looking for anything, anything recruit people to try to bring America down. We need to bring American up with proper virtues, values, the same ones our founding forefathers had 200 plus years ago.

120We need to go back to our roots, back to where those who taught us what is right and wrong. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Kelly Wasala. Kelly, thank you, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the board. Being gay, trans by, etc. is science. It's biology. It's not an outfit or a hat that once he tries on to see if it fits. It's not a lifestyle. It is someone's genetically predetermined sexual orientation. I present to you three testimonies from children who have been victims of bullying because of their sexual identity within our own school district. Student number one, this is this child's testimony verbatim. I did not come out until I was in high school. And looking back, I definitely would not have done it any earlier. Even for straight people, elementary and

121middle school is a very confusing and awkward time, but it's a whole lot worse for an LGBT kid. Straight people at least get their new feelings explained to them in family life class. It all begins to fall into place for them. While anything LGBTreated is never mentioned at school, I remember other kids and even adults throwing around hurtful things about gay people. How they were different, sick, disgusting, and unacceptable. And how there was no way people could ever be happy being gay. I was still confused then. And I'm still in denial about myself at that time. So, it didn't bother me to hear those things back then. But little did I know how much internal damage it caused and how much more difficult it made for me to come out. I actually started to believe

122what they said and slowly stopped caring about things that mattered like grades, sports, and my future. Most LGBTs are trapped in the closet, scared to come out because they feel they're in a hostile environment. Testimony number two. In seventh grade, I was the only gay kid in my school, at least that I knew of. Little did I know before I came out how unaccepting my classmates were. It wasn't until it was too late I realized no one else was yet out. I remember not being able to go to the boys' bathroom without being called names or being able to go in the locker room without being tripped. Not only was my self-esteem dropping, but so were my grades. I took algebra 1 that year and would bring home Fs after Fs after Ss on my

123tests. I stopped caring about most of my schoolwork. My school counselors never could do enough and my teachers, they were just overwhelmed and couldn't really help either. My only hope is that no one will have to go through what I had to put up with every day for almost two years. Third testimony. Bullying had reached its peak for me when I was in the eighth grade, and counselors had promised me that in high school it would stop. It didn't. Before high school had started, the bullying in middle school had actually caused me to develop depression and anxiety. Throughout the time, from 8th grade to my senior year of high school, I had been through four therapists. Over the year of my high school career, I would get picked on and demeaned by the majority of

124the male population at the school. I barely knew what the terms gay or had even meant. But I guess it had to pertain to me because that's what I went by. It had gotten so bad to the point where I developed physical anxiety coming to school. I was afraid to set foot in the locker rooms because I didn't want the other guys feeling uncomfortable. I'd give the popular athletes answers during class for fear they might throw an insult at me if I didn't. I'd been tormented and even asked, "Do you have two dads? Is that what taught you how to be a fag?" I now affiliate as bisexual as a sophomore in college, but I did not know this. Um, I'm sorry, but the fact that young high school students demean me for my personality

125and behavior is sickening. They were the worst years of my life. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Colobby Garmin. Colobby, good evening. Well, I came last time and I was here to argue that this would come across as a thoughtless decision if you made a quick decision for a political win. And it would also come across as a thoughtless decision if you made a decision to change the wording of this policy without a description of the implementation and what that would entail. And uh we're still awaiting a description of that implementation. and it feels like this is continued to be rushed through. Here are five reasons just uh simply that I would encourage you to vote no. Here are five reasons you could personally vote no. Number one, you respect the service of

126Gil Trenum and believe it to be disrespectful to not give the citizens of Brentsville a voice. Number two, you believe that a change of this nature should not be rushed. Number three, you recognize that the proposed adjustment addressing the bathrooms is contradictory alongside the guidance from the Department of Education and the dear co colleague letter that is the basis for this proposal. Number four, you realize that the proposed adjustment concerning the bathrooms is an example of the need for discussion about a whole host of other issues related to these challenges. At the last school board meeting, we watched as curriculum issues again took a backseat to what appears to be a political move. The principal of my daughter's school spent a wasted evening watching the Title One presentation be delayed again by this surprise policy

127update. Which brings me to the last reason you could vote no. You'd like to say no to bullying. Lastly, I'd like you to say no to bullying by resisting the unreasonable pressure that the chairman has placed on this board and the pro in this process uh when some patience and a thoughtful process could have prevented these long evenings and solved the problems for everyone. Please vote no on policy 060. Thank you. Our next speaker is Alyssa Harvey. Alyssa. Good evening, school board. I received a text from my son during his first week in high school. He was alarmed that students were wearing Confederate flag t-shirts, belt buckles, and baseball caps. One student wore a three-foot x 5 foot confederate flag around his shoulders like a cape while he walked around school. Students again wore confed

128confederate flag attire during the second week of school. After contacting the school's principles, I was told that wearing the flag clothing was allowable and an exercise of a student's first amendment rights. The 2016 2017 Prince William County Schools code of behavior under the heading student dress and appearance states that students are not permitted to wear items in which promote violence and hate. The Confederate battle flag is a symbol of hate. The flag has been used historically as a symbol of white supremacy. From the 1920s to the 1960s in the US, the Confederate flag was adopted by the Klux Clan, a violent extremist organization that terrorized, tortured, and killed African-Americans. During that time, my parents and grandparents lived in segregated southwestern Virginia. After the Supreme Court's 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education defenders of segregation

129employed the Confederate flag as a symbol of their cause. In January 1960, my mother and four other black students integrated Floyd County High School in Virginia. My son is aware of my personal experiences in the 1970s in newly integrated Northern Virginia. I was usually one of only a handful of black students at my Fairfax County schools. During my grade school years, the n-word was uttered occasionally by students. In high school years, I vividly recall the Confederate flag and mascot Johnny Rebel being celebrated at Fairfax High School's athletic events. In 1986, after complaints of racial insensitivity from students and parents, the school stopped using the flag and the mascot. In the 90s and 2000s, while living in New York, my family experienced the frustration of a landlord's change of mind when they saw that we were

130black applicants. After moving home to Virginia, one day, a man shouted the n-word through his house window to my four-year-old old daughter as I and I as I pushed my six four-year-old in a swing on the grounds of Sudley Elementary School. On June 17th, 2015, 21-year-old Dylan Roof shot and killed nine African-American members of a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Photos of Roof posing with a handgun and a Confederate battle flag were found online, as well as his racist rantings. In response to that tragedy, the Confederate flag was removed from South Carolina state capital grounds after decades of debate. In late 2015, the McGomery County School Board in Virginia banned apparel displaying Confederate flag and other symbols at school that would disrupt a student's learning environment. This evening, I asked the Prince William County School

131Board to follow the guidelines set forth by the Prince Mville County School Code of Conduct and ban students from wearing clothing that displays the Confederate flag, a symbol of hate. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Annie Garmin. Annie. Hello. I'm Annie Garmin. I'm a mother of four daughters, two of whom attend Triangle Elementary School. And I'm a former ESL teacher in Princeoom County at Vaughn Elementary where Lily, you were the principal. And so I'm here tonight speaking on behalf of many teachers in Princeoom County who I'm sure feel like they don't have a voice right now. So let me begin by saying that all human life is precious because it was created by God. It's absolutely correct that transgender people should be protected from injustice and their rights appropriately protected. No one is

132arguing about that. Let's just think about this for a minute. What if I claimed that I was Japanese? Would that make me Japanese? Of course not. Even if I insisted that inside I felt Japanese, would that make me Japanese? Of course not. Think about it. What if I was demanding Japanese citizenship to be granted to me because I insisted I was Japanese? Should citizenship be granted to me on that basis alone? Well, no. Despite how I feel inside and whatever longings are there to be Japanese, the truth is I am not Japanese. It's very objective. And it wouldn't be bullying me to deny my Japanese citizenship. Now, I I realize analogies all break down at some point, but just listen to the point. It would be one thing if there were hundreds of transgender students

133in Prince William County complaining about being denied access to the bathroom of their choice, but there has not been one case of such a complaint. Not one. I don't understand why we're coming up with a solution to something that is not even a problem. I believe that in the beginning, God made us male and female and we didn't emerge out of some primordial soup. Our gender is not something we create. It is something God through his infinite love and wisdom has given to us. Even if we feel we are a different gender, what we feel about ourselves is never the whole picture. In Genesis 1, we're told that all that God created was very good. A few chapters later, Genesis 3 tells us the story of how sin entered our world, marring everything that was

134once good. Our bodies, minds, the created world, all of it has been profoundly influenced by the fall. That means that some of our desires are even broken and messed up. Just because we feel something doesn't mean we should act on it. Let's just say hypothetically, right, that one of my four daughters is mouththing off to me and being disrespectful and disobedient. I might feel like slapping her, but would it be right to act on that feeling? All of us have different temptations in this sinick world. We all struggle with broken desires. Transgender students need help seeing their struggle for what it is. We all grown under this curse of sin. But that's not the end of the story. God in his mercy sent Jesus to willingly stand in our place to bear the punishment that

135we deserve for our sin. And when Jesus comes again, when Jesus comes, he'll take all this brokenness. He'll make it right again. So, as we await this day and try to make sense of the confusion, let's look to Christ. He is our identity. Ladies and gentlemen, I implore that you say no to policy 060. This policy. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker, our next speaker is Thomas Dodson. Mr. Dodson, I'm going to call up some You can come up. I'm just going to call up some people up behind you here. Um, just hold on one second, Mr. Dodson. I'm going to call up some people here behind you. Um, so the next speakers after that are you can come up to the front here please are Bill Petra, Philip Wilkins, Caleb Ora, Harry Wiggins.

136I was told that Riley Oasey is no longer gonna speak. Enoch Parada, Jesse Lightfoot, Tae Gupta, Janette Wilson, and Nicholas Nurnney. And then the 10 speakers after that, kind of getting your heads up here is Timothy Fraine, Denny Dhy, Rich Eaggan, Courtney Carmichael, joint speakers Ron and Deanna Blevens, Juliet Orur, Francine Ore, Matthew Brown, Dwey Kaiser, and Dr. Nick Tavani. those last 10 just giving you kind of your warning here. And now we're back to Mr. Dodson and your time begins, sir. That all right. My name's uh Thomas Dodson. Um and in all fairness, I didn't I didn't come to uh initially. Mr. Dodson, I'm going to restart your time. If we can get if we need to have the room quiet so we can hear Mr. It is already difficult to hear up here

137anyway. I'm sorry to interrupt you. We There was a lot of noise there. So, I talking mic. There you go. Check. Check. All right. All right. Mr. Dodson, I'll restart your time. I apologize. Now we can hear you. Thank you, sir. All right. All right, no worries. Um, uh, it was originally brought to my attention I', I just recently moved down here, uh, with the military about a month ago. So, uh, I figured I'd get more involved in PTA with my daughter's school because they were new to the school, new to the area. And we had a PTA meeting, uh, or PTSO, uh, I don't whatever they're called now. This is new for me. So, uh, and it was brought to my attention, um, that this upcoming graduation, um, and I I have a junior

138and a freshman, so she's not a senior yet, but it'll get there. Um, it was brought to our attention that due to the whole transgender thing, um, that at this next graduation, our school colors are black and gold, apparently. Um but due to to all the gender issues and whatnot um the school was instead of having black the girls is it the girls dress in gold and the boys dress in black that everybody was going to dress in black. So my first thought was are you playing with me because this is a tradition this is apparently and and since I'm new new here I got that but uh some of the other parents this is a tradition that some of their kids have been looking forward to for a long time and just cuz somebody

139might get their little boo booings hurt. I understand that. But you're going to throw out an entire tradition that kids have been looking forward to just for that. Okay? And I'm not trying to be insensitive, but if we're going to if we're going to talk about being uh identifying as this or identifying as that, then you're going to tell my daughter that you can't identify as anything by wearing the the gold dress or the gold robe or whatever it is uh when it comes your time to graduate. So, I I'm not sure if the other parents are are aware that this is going on or tracking this. Uh, we weren't. And it's it's concerning to me that it came from from our students, school board. I I never I never got anything. Granted, tracking. I

140just got here, but the other parents, they didn't get anything either saying, "Hey, this is going to be passed." It's just a blanket bam. This is happening. And if that's happening, y'all, that's the wrong answer. That is that is not the way that needs to go down. Every parent in here needs to be tracking what's going on with their kids. And they need to have a say. And when the kids found out, the kids even put up a petition that said, "Hey, we don't like this." And what happened to that petition, who knows? Uh, but it's personally, it's probably worth more than uh what this whole bill's written on the paper. So, this the kids need to be listened to, the parents need to be listened to, and if if we're not going to be

141addressed, and if we're not going to be consulted on this blanket issue, and granted, it's a small issue, tracking that. However, it's opening the door to a much bigger issue that is going to be voted on here tonight. And I'm pretty sure we're all aware that this is garbage and it just needs to be everybody just needs to pump the brakes, take a breather, go get something to eat, and vote no. All right. So, and if the whole uh before I run out of time, if this whole thing about the graduation is accurate, that's a no-go. That needs to be changed. And we apparently got till June to change that. So, don't tell me we can't change it. And I'm just giving you a heads up. We're fixing to come and change that. Thank you.

142Our next speaker is Bill Petra. Mr. Mr. Chair be before you uh start my clock I have a,64 signatures on a petition to vote no against it from the tribal clerk sir. Thank you. [Applause] Yeah, Mr. Chairman, uh other board members, my name is Bill Petra. Although I delivered the uh the signatures, I am not speaking on behalf of the church. Uh I'd like to make five points. Many of us in the room tonight are outraged because you folks have put us in a position where we have to leave our homes during the work to defend our children's safety and security when you should be doing that for us. Number two, we are not here because we are haters of gay and transgender people or because we want to hurt anyone's feelings, but since you've

143put us in this position, we are here to defend our children's safety and to speak the truth. Number two, three, the World Health Organization has declared transgenderism a mental disorder. It is on page 168 of the International Classification of Diseases document number 10. I have it right here. What are we doing here? There is a study just released by two renowned John's Hopkins University psychiatrists on sexuality and gender which debunks the idea that people are born as one sex but thinks they are another. The science just isn't there. Here is the study right here. I brought it up at the last meeting. So again, what are we doing here? It was suggested to me that bringing up religious beliefs to a majority of this board would fall on deaf ears and would be a waste

144of time. Let me remind you, we are a country founded on Judeo-Christian values. I and many in this room are Christians and we are voters. We are frankly sick and tired of being marginalized in the media and by others because we love God. The church that I belong to gathered a,64 signatures this past weekend from people who love God and are against this proposal. Miss Williams, most of them live in your district, including me. We will be watching how you vote this evening. For those of you in the audience, for those of you in the audience, how many of you would vote to change personnel on this board if they vote yes on this proposal? I will help lead that effort effort on some. Mr. Chairman, other board members, the people have spoken. There is

145no compromise on this policy change. Please drop it now and move on with the real business of educating our children in a safe and secure environment. And do not make us come back here for this nonsense. Again, thank you and I yield back to the rest of my time. Thank you. Our next speaker is Philip Wilkins. Mr. Wilkins. Philip Wilkins, Mr. Wilkins, Mr. Chairman, Dr. Waltz, members of the board, thank you for allowing me to speak tonight. My name is Philip Wilkins. My information is on file with the clerk. Is that better? I want to talk about why I oppose this policy change in principle, not just because of its very serious implications. I want to talk about the moral underpinnings of this change or lack thereof. There are two very different views on morality

146in the world today. Generally, the modern view is that moral laws are man-made rules like the rules of baseball, created by human will and therefore changeable by human will. The traditional and historical view of morality, however, taught by virtually all preodern philosophies in all the world's major religions, is that the laws of morality are not rules we can change, but principles we discover. Like the laws of a science, such as physics, they're based on human nature. And since human nature is essentially unchanging, the laws of morality are unchanging. This natural law approached to morality has two criteria. One is the thing in accordance with human nature. Two, is it in accordance with right reason? If we look at homosexual behavior and transgenderism through this lens, can we conclude that either behavior is moral? An honest

147analysis of the facts of nature does not result in that conclusion. What then of teachers who for conscience sake cannot send a boy to the girl's bathroom? What of families who can't afford to send their child to a private school and who object to such behaviors being normalized? What of students and employees who object to these lifestyles? Will they be punished if they don't use the right pronoun? You might say to yourself, "Policies like this are acts of compassion." But I submit to you that any compassion not based in truth is a false compassion capable of doing great harm. While you aren't in the classroom as teachers, you still have a responsibility to the 88,000 students in this county to uphold what is good and true. Make no mistake, any LGBT employee or student has

148infinite worth simply because they are human. But that important fact does not demand that you as a school board embrace the same falsehood and wrongdoing. Thank you. Thank you. Our our next speaker is Caleb Ora. Caleb, good evening. Uh first of all, I want to say thank you to all of you for your service to the Prince William County Schools. Um just as we're here as parents and concerned citizens, we know that you guys put in a lot of time. So, thank you for your service. Um, I live in Prince William County. Um, my wife and I and our six children, I'm sorry, my wife and I and our six children. Thank you. Um, have lived in Prince William County on and off for the last 5 years. And we currently live in the Kohl's

149district. Um, as I was listening to all the presenters this evening, I was tallying it up that out of the approximate 43 presenters, um, 37 have been uh, in favor of voting no against this policy. And I I guess I say that just to say these are people who are pretty passionate about what they believe in. They've spent the last two maybe three four hours of their time here with you this evening and they feel very strongly about protecting their children for the most part. Um and for all those people that question and say, you know, these are the haters. I put it to you this evening, where is the hate? Where is the hate for the people from the people this evening that have come up and spoke? We're not talking about um children

150as being, you know, horrible people or people that deserve to be discriminated against. Every single person that I've heard this evening has said that every child, every student deserves to be treated with love and dignity and respect. And I think I can't speak for everybody here, but I can speak at least for myself and for my wife and for our children when I say that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and love and respect. And I guess again working with the numbers you think 88,000 students um I think it's like 96 schools and if you're generous and say that it's 0.1 to.3% of the population that is transgender or questioning their gender that places it approximately one two maybe three students per public school that is in that situation versus the approximate 488 girls

151um in each school who would be approximately um that could be at great harm from this policy. My wife and I have five daughters and uh we were sharing last night at the dinner table trying to discuss some of the issues um that are going on here and one of our daughters was just so visibly moved by this that she started to cry because she couldn't understand why there are bullies out there and at the same time why she could in in turn be threatened in a bathroom. And I I put to you this evening the question, do you feel like there are going to be there's going to be less bullying if there's actually a change to this policy? There are always going to be bullies out there. And it's an unfortunate fact of

152life, and all children deserve to be protected, but I think that we all deserve to have our children safeguarded, especially in in the bathroom. Um, and so I I thank you for considering this this um this point, and I ask you to please vote no against this policy. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Harry Wiggins. Harry Wiggins. Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh I'm asking you to support this uh amended non-discrimination policy. uh the pro the proposal as I understand it would only would not cover what I I guess 95% of the people talked about and that's bathrooms and uh and locker rooms. I think most of you are aware we have a a history of discrimination against minorities in this country. Starting with Native Americans, moving on to African-Americans, internment of Japanese

153during the second war, second world war, now Muslim Americans. Uh this is a fundamental civil right. Our constitution is designed to protect minorities. We heard from some high school students who areities. No, our constitution is designed to to protect minorities, not to support majorities. I received the Mr. Wiggins, stop for one second, please. There will be no interrupting the speakers. I will have you removed from the room. That's the end of the discussion. If we see who's interrupting speakers, you'll be removed right away without without further without notice. Everyone has the right to speak freely. Thank you. I received uh several emails regarding the county churches opposing the uh non-discrimination policy in the last uh week. Uh in addition to receiving several mailings uh uh with inserts uh from signed by pastors who uh oppose

154this policy change. Uh, I think I think usually churches get the moral issues correct, but every now and then they get it wrong. And I I think in the South, white Baptist churches did not speak out against slavery. And in the 20th century did not speak out against segregation. And it wasn't until 1995 that the Southern Baptist Convention uh renounced slavery and segregation. They got it wrong. Eventually, they got it right, but they got it wrong. Uh for 50 years, the Catholic Church turned a blind blind eye to priests molesting little boys. My point is that churches are not always the moral compass we should follow. I want to change topics for 1 minute and 7 seconds here. On another note, I think uh yesterday the board of county supervisors proposed a joint effort to

155determine a path forward uh for our schools to get out of the overcrowding crisis that we're involved in. I urge the school board to move expeditiously in this effort and cooperate with the board of county supervisors. The current 10-year CIP approved by the previous school board proposes at least another 45 trailers on top of the 209 we have today. And it's likely kindergarteners will have 30 in their classrooms and high schools will rout routinely have 40 students per class. This is unacceptable for a county. According to Chairman Stewart, that is the seventh wealthiest county in the country. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Enoch Parada. Good evening, dear Chairman Sawyer and members of the Prince William County School Board. My name is Enoch Prada. I live in Triangle, Virginia. The clerk has my

156address. I have been a resident of uh Prince County for the past 26 years and I have congregated in the same church uh church of God gate to heaven in the corner of Minville Road in General Washington Drive. I went to Dell City Elementary School, Godwin Middle School in Garfield High School, class of 1998. I speak tonight uh to you as a concerned father, men of faith, and Hispanic resident with young uh school-aged children. And I am first all thankful for our school educational system. And unfortunately, I also know all about the need to prevent discrimination and promote equality. But I am also concerned about the changes to policy 060 to add gender identity and uh sexual orientation to our non-discrimination policy if passed will disenfranchise the majority of our school children and open the

157door to future unprecedented consequences that will bring that will not bring gain to our community. The school system should never force children to undress in front of other kids of the opposite biological gender as requested in other counties. To do so would violate the dignity and privacy of our children. I think that first the public should have an input on the superintendent's policy because it will be our children who will be disciplined if they break the policy and also both staff and administration will be disciplined. Second, it will undo the reallocation of resources for transgender education for children millions of dollars for staff development and sensitivity training. And three, this will this is a new issue nationwide and would I would like to know if the school board has looked into records of complaints against

158schools discip and the discipline of students. There is much to learn on this issue before the superintendent is sent on a wild goose chase. I find myself wondering of other problems that we have not addressed properly. Our school system cannot be cannot keep up with the community growing esol population. We have done very little to resolve our overcrowded classrooms and many of our schools are over capacity forcing students into staff into tra and staffs into trailers. With so many meaningful challenges facing our school system, why does the school board choose to focus on gender identity? The Virginia Supreme Court has agreed to hear lawsuits from Glowcaster County Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools. Prince William County School Board should wait until the court has issued a ruling on this uh policy before moving forward.

159to do anything else would threaten the privacy and dignity of our kids and subject our school system into potential expensive litigation. I ask the board to please vote no to changes to policy 060. Thank you for your time. God bless the county and God bless the USA. God bless you. Our next speaker is Jesse Lightfoot. Jesse Jesse Lightfoot. Jesse. Good evening, member of the board. Thank you for allowing me to speak. Um, I'm a mom of three. I have a 10-year-old son who goes to Glen Kirk, and I have a boy, girl, 17-month old twin. Uh, you have my address on file. I was at your last meeting regarding this new policy you want to vote for on transgenders, right? I did not speak, but came to listen to both sides, and I'm glad I

160did. The next day, I spoke with my son a bit about the policy and asked my fifth grader what he thought. He's here tonight and you'll hear from him next, and he wanted to share his thoughts with you. And I figured if he can, I should display the same courage and speak out. He mentioned this policy is not about bathrooms or lockers, but just giving them rights to help reduce bullying. First of all, by enforcing the policy, it's not going to make kids who are doing the bullying stop. Um, I am a deaf woman and I grew up uh going to a deaf school and I decided to try public school for three years. I was bullied all three years because of my speech because I couldn't hear and all that and it gotten so

161bad that I went back to a school for the deaf. At that time they did have a discrimination policy against people with disability didn't stop anybody and it it's not going to stop here. I don't understand why we need to push a policy on giving rights to transgenders when all kids deserve the right not to be bullied. My own son was bullied two years ago at his last school. Watching him come home in tears just broke my heart. And no matter how much I complained or spoke to the school, they didn't do anything. And I came to learn that unless he's a minority, he's not going to be taken seriously. Passing this policy is telling kids and parents that unless you're a transgender, gay, poor, a non-Christian, or a non-white, it doesn't matter. This policy

162will eventually lead to the rights on allowing kids to choose bathrooms or lockers based on genders they selfidentify with. A friend of mine told me that her son overheard some kid saying that they hope this policy passed so they can change in the lockers with the pretty girls. And that scares me just the thought of I have a 17-month girl. What if she grows up and some boy just likes her and decides, you know, let's give this a try. I understand that uh you want all kids to feel safe and comfortable and I do too, but I don't think that you have fully thought out this policy, thought out how to make sure that everyone feels safe and that everyone uh's belief and values are respected. Kids are afraid to speak up on their belief

163and how they feel on this topic because they are now fearful of being bullied or called racist or homophobic. How ironic. To protect a group of kids is now causing another larger group of kids to fear for their own safety. I urge you to drop this topic of focusing only on transgender and spending your energy on doing a policy on how to better improve the bullying situation for all kids uh attending school. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Our next speaker is Ta Gupta. [Applause] Thank you, member of the board. My name is Ta Gupta and you have my address on file. First off, I want to say that I have been bullied before and it's not okay for anybody to be bullied. Whether you're transgender, black, white, Christian, or atheist, I believe that

164we all shouldn't be bullied and being bullied is hard. I came home crying because it was so bad. The school did not take my situation seriously and I believe it may have been because I'm not a minority. I'm a straight white Christian boy. I understand you all are voting on this to help transgender kids not be bullied. I believe we should put our energy and focus on reducing bullying on every child in the school, not just transgenders and other minority kids. The policy you want to pass will lead to allowing kids to go to the bathroom, use the locker room and hotel room with the gender they identify as that could be the gender of the opposite that they what they were born with. I'm uncomfortable with the idea of changing clothes and happening to

165see a kid that has the opposite gender part as I do. I feel uncomfortable seeing a female body part. And I don't know what it is having my younger brother and sister to see a different gender part. This is not me being prejudiced. It's me sharing what I am comfortable with. I believe nobody should have to see parts if they don't want to. I am a brother to two siblings and I would not want them or me in that situation to see things that we are not comfortable with. You are trying to make it comfortable for transgender kids. Please also think of those that are not transgender and how they would feel if you pass this. I would be scared to come to school into the bathroom. What I'm trying to say is yes, the

166transgender kids shouldn't be bullied. No one should be bullied. Passing this policy will not stop kids from being bullied transgender. We need to work together. Please vote no for policy 60. Thank you. Our next speaker is Janette Wilson. Janette Wilson. Janette. Good evening. My name is Janette Wilson and my address is on file. I am from the Brentsville district. I go to Pennington traditional school and as a student of a principal Yum County school, I want to be able to speak out for what is right in this choice, whether the verdict be made now or in the future. You, the school board, are implying that this choice is mainly about discrimination, but there is definitely more to this decision. If this non-discrimination policy passes, there will be many more changes in the future. When I

167am in high school, I might find myself having to sleep in the same room as a biologically male student if there was an overnight field trip or a sporting event. I would never allow and accept that. That is an intrusion and a violation of my privacy, and it is utterly wrong. I refuse to believe that you would force me to change in a locker room with a male student who selfidentifies as female. Privacy for students from ages 5 to 18 matters so much, and you have to acknowledge that. By giving rights to the minute percent of people that are transgender, you are taking away the rights of the vast majority of the rest of the county. Also, if young students are suddenly introduced to this kind of behavior in schools, they will be confused. I

168am a Catholic and I know that we are all children of God who deserve to be loved and treated fairly. But becoming a different gender than the gender you were born with just goes against nature itself. Instead of focusing on the discrimination of transgenders, we should focus on our current problems. One of these major problems is bullying. Schools already have a zero tolerance bullying policy. Yet, it still happens every day. When my brother was in fourth grade, he was bullied so extremely that my mother had to take him out of school, and he is still homeschooled. One of the boys who had relentlessly bullied him actually got physical. Once he hit my brother in the stomach with his head. My brother told his teacher and counselor about it, but nothing happened. My mother met with

169the counselor, and yet nothing changed. My family homeschooled for a long time because we thought it was a good way of educating. But we know other families who homeschooled because of how terrible the bullying was in their school. A girl in our neighborhood was bullied in second grade so badly her mother pulled her out of school. Then her friend was also bullied in second grade at the same school and the school did nothing. A person we know was actually told to kill himself by the people who were bullying him and he was also taken out of school. I'd like to add that all of these examples I gave and the people in them, they were all straight. Where's our protection, our rights, and support? Fix the problems we have. Fix the problems we have right

170now before adding new ones to our schools. What about my safety? What about my rights as a young girl? What about the other thousands of people who are going to our schools? You are giving rights to transgenders, but taking away the rights of other students. Simply, the safety of students is what truly matters most and the morals we keep in our school system. Please think about this decision and make the right choice. I hope that as a student at a Prince William County school, I influence your decision and show you that many of the children who know what is happening are against this. So now I urge you to vote against policy 060 because of our safety. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Nicholas Nurnney. Nicholas, you'll be our next speaker. Nicholas, before

171you get going, I'm going to call up the next 10 speakers to sit here. Um, so we've got Nicholas. The next 10 speakers that should please come up to the front are Timothy Fra, Denny Doherty, Rich Eaggan, Courtney Carmichael, joint speakers Ron and Deanna Blevens, Juliet our Francine or Matthew Brown, Dwey Kaiser, and Dr. Nick Tavani. The next 10 speakers getting your heads up after that. Don't come to the front yet. These these folks um but just know that you'll be the next 10 called up are Rafie Ahmed, Craig Radcliffe, David Wahberger, Margaret Lozelle, Dennis Ho, Patrick O'Neal, Darren Lauder, Nancy Cro, Cro Croto, sorry about that. Danielle Canasten, and Steve Bender. Those will be the next 10. So, we're back to Nicholas Negernie. And your your time starts now, sir. Okay. Thank you, Mr.

172Chairman, Dr. Waltz, and board members. Uh, a little nervous. Uh, anyway, my name is Nicholas John Negerie. Um, my wife and I have lived in um, Prince William County for the past two decades with with our eight children. Um, over the years, you know, we we've raised or we are in the process of raising uh, these children. U, some have gone to public, uh, some private, religious, and we've homeschooled our our children at various times. um based on the unique needs of each child. Two of our daughters, you know, went to Prince William County schools a number of years back, had had a positive experience. Um we've been fortunate, you know, very fortunate to be able to afford some options uh like that, you know, private religious schools or, you know, the time commitment uh

173that's required for homeschooling. Um as a Christian, I I certainly don't want to see anybody bullied or discriminated against. Um, but if you, the board, were to pass these changes to policy, then wouldn't you be bullying or discriminating against so many of your constituents and ignoring the dignity and safety of our children if the proposed changes were to pass? Well, I I mean, I certainly wouldn't risk putting my children into the schools in that environment. But what about the families that can't afford the cost of private schools or the time commitment that's required for homeschooling because of their situation? Please vote no on changing policy 060. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Timothy Frainey. Timothy, you got my name right. You got my name right this time. I got it right. Thank you.

174Glad I could do it this time. Don't start the clock. Yeah. Before I start the clock, never promises. Yeah. Before you start the clock, uh, thanks everybody for let, you know, letting everybody get a chance to talk. I know how pressed you are and I hope you guys all ate your waties because I think we're all going to be here for a while, but uh, thanks for everybody letting everybody speak their mind. Thank you very much. Okay. Uh, I'm not I I changed my speech yet again and uh, I just want to summarize because you've heard it and you've heard it and you've heard it. It's not about us as individuals. No, nobody in this room. It's all about our children and their safety. Period. Yeah, the I read the the compromise proposal. It does

175very little. And um and if this is if this is just a punt down the road, I will tell everybody here because you still see the people here whatever time it is. We have resolve. We will be back if we need to be back. I don't care what time it is. I can't I cannot do a better job than the than the the the priests and ministers and everybody from all different denominations. They you heard the word of compassion. We have compassion. There is love for all. There's not hate. I did not like hearing the stories about some of the things that went on. Nobody does. We all are a loving. Most people are loving. You know, there's going to be bullying like was said before. So, let's see. Number three here. Okay. Again, I

176I was here on September 7th. The arguments for supporting this policy uh changes are centered on bullying, protection, harassment, education for all. Let's dispel these. That's not true. All students, staff, US citizens, we say it, liberty for all are entitled to protection against bullying and harassment. It exists already. They all get a good education. And if this isn't working, you got to fix that. We don't need a new policy. That policy exists right now. Um, other page number four. Um, as you like, there was a quote in u one of the papers. Oh, from you uh Mr. Sawyer. As you likely know, I proudly support adding sexual orientation and general identity to our non-discrimination policy. This is not a bathroom or locker room issue for me, but a fairness issue when it comes to employment,

177work environment, school environment, and of course, education. Let's address these one at a time. I don't think there's any issue there there a fairness issue and if there's a history of employment or work environment or school environment where is it we don't we it doesn't exist. So if you strip it all away what's it come down to? It comes down to it is a bathroom. It is a locker room issue. It is spending the night with a with a with another uh uh somebody of the opposite sex. I believe the vast majority agree there's no bullying, no harassing, there's equal education for all. Rules already exist for that. Let's not confuse the issue here. If these are already covered, then simply make no change to the policy. Otherwise, it is a bathroom issue. It is

178a locker room issue. It is overnight and sport team issue. Let me close because I'm addressing everybody here. Watch how they vote. That's the only way that we'll have the power by seeing next next time in the for election. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Denny Dherty. Denny. Denny. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members. Uh I'm Denny Derty. I had three children who graduated from Grant Princeville uh District High School and now have grandchildren at Battlefield High, Craig Middle, and Hey Mark Elementary. Um I came tonight uh in large measure to try to understand what the purpose of the resolution was, what the purpose of the policy is. Uh it's certainly not abundantly clear what that would be if we it's not about bathrooms. Uh it's not about the law. uh

179there the uh uh courts have not spoken to that and certainly those who passed our civil rights laws in our country did not understand on the basis of sex to mean one's identification uh if other than one's biological gender what is it about is it how would you propose that Dr. Waltz alter the curriculum or the standards of conduct in response to this policy? Is it to is it about changing attitudes toward sexual behavior or lifestyles that many families or religious groups believe to be wrong? asking to to uh use classroom to inculcate tolerance toward or sympathy to people who reject the gender into which they're born, wish to be recognized as another. What is the objective here tonight and I think it's it is well worth taking time. Uh you should be providing guidance

180to Dr. Waltz as to what your objective is here here not expecting it vice versa and give Brensville an opportunity to be heard in this discussion. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Rich Eaggan. Rich. Good evening. My name is Rich Eaggan. I'm from Gainesville in the Brentville district and we're not representatives. You've heard it a thousand times. I had a nice little prepared talk here, but it really doesn't fit because everything's been said already. I don't want to really waste a lot of your time, a lot of everybody's time here. But I am curious because in my more than 50 years out in the workforce where I was both an executive and an hourly worker and washed dishes and even drove a bus for Prince William County special needs. Uh I was a

181problem solver predominantly. I solve problems and professionally I solve problems and rule one was define the problem. I'm not sure we've done that. Whether you have or not, I don't know. It's not obvious to me in the research that I've done in this short period of time. The one constant I hear here, there's pros and cons for this. Either way, you can argue with other both sides all days and all nights, but the constant I hear is the feeling is the board hasn't done its due diligence. That's the feeling. I have been looking at this for a week now. I'm retired. I had plenty of time to sit there and do my homework and send out some emails and get a few responses from some of the board members, not all. And my bottom line

182is I don't see it. I don't see where you've done your homework and where you're serving us, the citizens of this county. I would not want to be Dr. Waltz and get this ambiguous policy sent to me to have to implement. that would that would just ruin my day at least. And just put it in perspective is uh I was a consultant and an adviser in different sized organizations up to and including one that had over 16,000 employees and had a budget of over a billion dollars. I don't come here casually. I don't come here without an experience. I would ask the board members to honestly and sincerely look in your hearts and look in your soul and see if you can answer these questions. And if you can't answer these questions and the others

183brought up in this meeting, you probably should be voting no. I ask you, has the school division council been consulted regarding this mo motion? What's the number of trans transgender students in the county that will be affected by this policy? How does this policy change enhance the present policy to protect all of our students? Why were the board members, as I understand it, told they would see implementation instructions after the vote? Where are these implementation instructions? Have any complaints of discrimination been received from transgender dluent students or their parents and guardians? Are there any reports or circumstances that warrant this immediate action? Are there any reports on the effects this motion will have to the school system and the county? Does the material change made to the proposed motion since the last meeting can create

184a need for the policies your procedures for a first reading that this is no longer a second reading of the proposition? Has there been a study conducted to determine the need for this change? If so, where is it? I thank you and I ask you to do your due diligence. Thank you. Our next speaker is Courtney Carmichael. Courtney, this is me. All right. My name is Courtney Carmichael. My address is on file with the clerk. I'm 16 and I am a junior at Patriot High School. I'm here today to state my opinion on the change to the non-discrimination policy adding sexual orientation orientation and gender identity. Adding these so-called protections will prevent principles from being able to keep non-transgender students from using the wrong bathrooms by simply identifying as something different than their biological scientific

185sex. Why? Because I feel like if this goes through, I will not be protected. I am afraid Oh, wait. I am not afraid of or need protection from my fellow students who are truly transgender, but the ones who will misuse your motives to harass me and my friends. It also it is not right to vote without representation from my district, the Brunville district. In history, there is a saying about taxation without representation. So, are you going to push this change to the policy upon all of us without representation from the Bris Brensville district? It isn't right that you vote on this change without someone to represent the Brensville district because it makes me feel that we are left out of this discussion and have no say. I would also like to ask, would this change

186risk the possibility of suspension or even expulsion if I slip up and accidentally call a transgender student by the sex determined by science and genetic genetics instead of what they identify as. Because if that happens, I would not go to school I would not go to a school where I get suspended because I accidentally called a student by the wrong pronoun. It is unreasonable to suspend or expel a student because of a slip up. Now, from experience, I've been bullied from name calls to physical to physically push to a wall to being sexually harassed verbally. So, I know what it's like to be mistreated by other students. And none of those times were they slip-ups. So, I think it would not be right if a student was expelled or expend suspended because they didn't know

187or forgot they were talking to someone who was transgender. I feel like we children are pawns in your adults games of politics politics. And I don't want to be. I say no to any change to the non-discrim non-discrimination policy until all possible effects are considered. Thank you. Our next speaker are joint speakers um Ron and Deanna Blevens. Ron and Diana. Mr. Chairperson and esteemed members of the board. I want to start out by affirming my belief that all people should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, child birth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. I have a little girl who attends Alvi Elementary School. And while I absolutely concur with the import of the proposed change to policy

18860 for fostering non-discrimination and a commitment to equity, I also have very serious concerns about it. While the proposed change might empower members of the LGBT community as intended, the changes could also inadvertently empower predators who are not in the LGBT community. And that is a major concern. Who is to stop a biological and self-identified man or boy from taking advantage of these policies that are intended for the benefit of others in a way that could be devastatingly harmful. My daughter is a young girl with special needs. She is developmentally challenged and she would be especially vulnerable in such circumstances. Such access to young girls, let alone those with special challenges, presents terrifying possibilities. And as a person who fully believes in gender equality, I believe the risk goes the other direction as well, especially

189in this digital age when any person could take advantage of access to persons of the opposite biological gender with their cameras and their phones. I believe I speak for many others here when I say we oppose the proposed amendment not because of any animous toward our peers in the LGBT community, but because we love our children and our families, which includes those of the LGBT community who are our sisters and brothers, daughters, and sons. I understand that this proposed policy change isn't supposed to be about bathrooms, but look at the practical effects of such policy changes or proposals in other districts. The lawsuits, the litigation, they're all about bathrooms. If these are the practical consequences of such efforts, then they defeat the more important purposes for which the policies were designed. A person's sexual orientation

190or gender identity is a very personal matter. Any case of discrimination or bullying because a person is transgender must be addressed impromptly. But no such discrimination case has been filed in the county in 10 years. I commend the board and our county's leaders for having established such a positive record of sensitivity and equity to all our diverse community and in our worldclass schools. Okay. The proposed change to policy 60 is not conducive to the continuation of this exemplary record. It unfairly politicizes persons whom it purports to protect. It puts our children at greater risk not because of anyone in the LGBT community but because of predators of any orientation or identity. Thank you. I implore you. Our next speaker is Juliet 65. Juliet Hello, my name is Juliet or I'm 13 years old. Uh, the

191biggest problem I have with the changes to policy 60 is that not only would it allow transgender people to use the bathroom and locker room of their choice, but anyone, whether they're actually transgender or not, can claim that they self-identify as a girl that day and have free access to the girls bathrooms and locker rooms. This is a recipe for disaster and a huge violation of personal privacy. I would be completely mortified if a boy walked into the bathroom or locker room while I was changing clothes. I wouldn't feel at all safe if this policy goes through. And that's not right. Girls should be able to feel safe and secure everywhere at school, including the bathrooms and the locker rooms. So, please respect the rights and privacy of all students. Also, parents are entrusting their

192children's safety and well-being to the schools and to you. Please don't let them down. Protect us. Please vote no on the changes to policy 60. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Francine our Francine. Hi, my name is Francine our and I'm a mother of five. I live in Brensville district. Um, I'm here to express my grave concern over the proposed revision to policy 60. First of all, why is this change even being considered when Brentsville has no vote? The only fair thing to do is replace Mr. Trenum with one of the persons whom he himself recommended. Second of all, regarding the proposed compromised motion to exclude bathrooms and locker rooms, who are we kidding if we say this policy change will not affect restrooms, showers, and locker rooms? That makes no sense at

193all to say that this policy change only applies to part of school property. This is not tenable and it practically invites lawsuits against the county. All children, LGBT or not, deserve love and respect. But this amendment to policy 60 is not the answer. True solutions respect the rights of everyone. If this policy change is enacted, then in the name of non-discrimination, we will be allowing discrimination against many others. In the name of protecting the rights of a few, we will be trampling on the rights of many. This policy change would effectively and literally open the doors of our restrooms and locker rooms to anyone transgender or not. Many, many girls would feel exposed, vulnerable, and traumatized to have someone with male genitalia, whether that person identifies as a female or not, in the bathroom or

194locker room with them while they're in varying states of undress. This also obviously opens the door wide to abuse of this policy by those who are not transgender but claim to be so to gain access to girls restrooms and locker rooms which could lead not only to lack of privacy but worse. And these things have already been happening in other school districts and other places that have enacted these policies. Since there is no objective or scientific test of whether one is transgender and since the proponents of this claim that someone can change their ident gender identity at any time, there is nothing school officials would be able to do to prevent abuse of this policy. Are you really willing to take a chance and enact this and just wait to see if or when one

195of our girls is victimized and just deal with it then? The damage to the girl at that point it would be too late. All of our children deserve to feel safe and protected at school and we as the adults have the responsibility to ensure that for them. When Target recently enacted a policy similar to this, many people decided to simply take our business elsewhere. But we're not talking about a retail store that people can choose to avoid here. These are our schools. The children serviced by our public schools who are uncomfortable with this cannot just decide to take their business elsewhere. I appeal to you. Carefully consider all the ramifications and do not be deliluded into thinking that you can enact this policy change and exclude restrooms and locker rooms from it except for temporarily.

196If you vote for it, you need to be prepared to allow anyone access to any gender restroom, shower, or locker room. Please ensure the privacy and safety of our children. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Matthew Brown. [Applause] Matthew. Before I begin, I would like to thank God, this great country, the Prince Ring County School Board, and the members of this audience for allowing me to openly discuss this deeping, deeply concerning matter. My wife and I are here this evening as representatives of our four children that attend Prince William County Schools. We are here to ensure that not only are their voices heard, but ours as well. At a time when our country and society is divided and separated more than ever before, we are facing with another challenging decision. The pro the

197proposed revision of policy 060 seeks to amend the existing school divisions non-discriminatory policy and add the word sexual orientation and gender identity. Unless a compromise is reached, one side of this argument will leave this meeting tonight feeling that justice wasn't served. The other side will leave in triumph feeling that democracy can work and that voices can be heard when they come together. I stand before you tonight seeking victory for righteousness, for morality, and for the small voices that want to be heard. The 88,000 that go to school in Prince William County. The little voices that feel helpless when decisions are made for them without their consideration. For the victory over decisions that are made based on national party affiliation or decisions that are made against the will of the people for personal agendas. Mr. Sawyer,

198my wife, my children, and myself ask you, the school board appointed to protect and represent many of these small voices to vote no to this policy. Adding sexual orientation and gender identity language to the school division non-discriminatory policy will open the doors that should not be open or may never be closed. Policy revision will allow transgender students and staff to use those bathrooms, locker room, showers, and participate on athletic teams of their choice. Children will be placed in uncomfortable positions that were forced to share those bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers, and students with those of a transgender nature and those that are confused as far as their gender. Children will needlessly placed in harm's way as adults are opened up to that of their biological gender against them, for which they are, that will allow

199them to go into those bathrooms, those locker rooms, and those showers. Children have already been forced to face these issues the United States government and the Commonwealth of Virginia have heavily burdened them with. Those burdens have caused so severe biological, sociological, and moral damage to our vulnerable and highly impressible youth. Adding more burden of necessary confusion to our children will just continue to damage them more. In in closing, top researchers and psychologists throughout the world have labeled transgender transgenderism and gender identity as a mental disorder that needs special attention and therapy. Milling children who and people who examine gend or go down the path of gender transition often change their minds as they become adults. It is um at this time I ask Prince County School Board to vote on the no to this revision

200of the policy and to hold off until other issues or hold off until other issues have been resolved. Other states are currently looking at legal battles over this and um to jump on this right now with this continues will only cost this county more money, take away precious resources from the from the funds that need to go to doing what's right, which is teaching these children and making sure that we keep them safe. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Dwey Kaiser. Dwey. My name is Dwey Kaiser. I'm a was a student at Stonewall Jackson High School, 1968, class of 68. And um uh thanks for taking the time board tonight to listen to us. And Dr. Walsh, thanks for taking the time to listen to us also. And uh I think about almost

201every point has been back and forth. I mean, I think we've discussed it almost all different ways. And I went and I have listened to the um previous board meeting about five times all the way through to try to listen to everybody's point of view. And um I come to the conclusion as a board maybe you should consider what we we are taught when we're we're taught in school. One is that you should do your homework before you do something or before you make a decision and and practice what you preach. And uh also I want to uh and and if you do your homework, you know, like many have already said, I know when I was in school, you were taught to get information, put it together, and and and and and look at

202all the different angles of that. And as you've seen tonight, there's a lot of different people have have did some homework, real homework. And I want to thank the parents. I'm I'm I'm 67 year old. My children are grown. I don't have any children in school, but I do have a love for children. I have a love for people in general. And I think of all I appreciate all the parents who are out here. I mean that really it it really inspires me as as a citizen in Prince William County that parents care that much about their children. They take it seriously. And sometimes they're projected that I notice sometimes people say that parents don't care about their children or don't care about their children's school, but they do. They do a whole lot. They

203they work very hard. They work all day. They come home and spend a lot of times with their kids. But I ask you again to do your homework. and I ask you to vote no on regulation 060. Thanks. Thank you. Our next speaker is Dr. Nick Tavani. Dr. Tavani, not here. I'm going to call up our next 10 speakers then. Those are Rafie Ahmed, Craig Ratcliffe, David Wahberger, Margaret Lozelle, Dennis Ho, Patrick O'Neal, Darren Lauder, Nancy Croto, Danielle Kynaston, and Steve Bender. Those are our next 10 speakers. Heads up to the following 10. Uh, you're warning here. Shereice Rushing, Giovana Null, Brad Bro Bromel, Wally Kubitz, John Czechco, Cynthia Fillinger, Father Thomas Vanderwood, Asan Islam, Steven Marbach, and Amy Lopez. So those last 10 there are that the uh at the little heads up and

204we're on speaker number 61, Rafi Ahmed. Good evening. Uh Mr. Mr. Chairman, members of the board, and Mr. Walls, thank you for allowing me to be here uh to address all of you. My information is on the file. Um I am from Daranor Islamic Community Center. However, I'm here in my personal capacity tonight. Uh as a minority, I am very sensitive to the rights of other minorities. uh as Muslim kids are bullied in our school system on daily basis by students, teachers and principles. I support protecting the rights of all students. However, not by infringing upon restified sons and daughters. The bathroom policy will especially affect religious beliefs and practices of Muslim girls who wear hijab. Uh it is our responsibility to safeguard privacy, modesty, chis chastity, dignity, religious rights and safety of all our

205sons and daughters. I implore the board to do the right thing by not compromising the rights of our straight sons and daughters. I believe that uh I believe that we should provide LGBT students and employees special arrangements as gender um as possibly as genderneutral restrooms uh as they also deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Craig Ratcliffe. Correct. May I approach the uh and give some a documentation to the clerk. Good evening. My name is Craig Radcliffe. My wife and I come here before the Prince William County School Board as concerned grandparents. The school board's proposal to add gender identity to the non-discrimination clause within policy 060 would allow transgender students and staff to choose the bathroom, locker room, showers, and athletic team participation of their

206preferred choice regardless of biological anatomy. As far as my wife and I are concerned, this revision is just wrong and we we vote no. We understand that the PR Prince William County School Board wants to convince the residents of this county that the re revision to policy 06 is right and just. It is not right nor is it just for the following reasons. But as grandparents of 10 grandchildren, my wife and I have two important reasons for voting no. First, the policy violates the privacy of the non-transgender students who attend school in this county. This proposed change to policy 060 could create uncomfortable encounters among children of opposite biological anatomy. as a grandparent is hard enough to explain the birds and bees, let alone trying to answer the questions such as, "Grandpa, why did that

207boy come to the girl's room while I was doing my private thing?" This is from a three and a half-year-old. Secondly, this policy creates a real legal liability problem for the county. Across America, the issue of dealing with the rights of transgender students has been met with opposition from at least 24 states. So, it would appear that in only addressing the rights of transgender students, Prince William Public Schools is overlooking the rights and safety of nontrgender students. Therefore, Prince William County School Board, answer this question, please before you go any further. Who is going to police the bathrooms, the showers, the locker rooms, the bedrooms at overnight school sponsored events from students pretending to be transgender? Who is going to protect non-transgender students from the mental anguish of being exposed to biological gender differences in

208school? By not addressing these questions, your legal liability could be enormous. if a non-transgender student is harmed physically or mentally. For years in America, the rule reule of the majority has long been honored. Now, in a liberal political correctness society, minority issues like transgressor are taking taking center stage while the silent majority remains silent. Well, I suppose that my wife and I could be labeled as being in the silent majority. However, tonight my wife and I representing our tren 10 grandchildren are not being silent anymore. We vote no. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is David Walber. Good evening, Mr. Chairman, board. My name is David Wahberger, and as a veteran and a father of two teenage girls, one of whom was recently come came home and asked to be homeschooled, and were concerned

209with some of the conversation which was going on today. Mr. Chairman, the details around this proposal disturb me. Uh the assumption that this proposal doesn't need to follow the bylaws is disturbing. The timing of this proposal without representation of a deployed serviceman is disturbing. the fact that the current administration has threatened schools with the loss of federal funding if the schools do not embrace certain concepts uh which have so far failed to pass Congress and be enacted into law is disturbing that certain political activists demand econom accommodation but are not willing to accommodate other protected classes is disturbing. All classes of individuals deserve respect and accommodation, especially protected classes. I find it difficult to believe that one protected class outranks and is overprotected than another class. The premise of verification, which so long has been

210the government's foundation, being so easily set aside is disturbing. I remember being 16 and looking forward to drive. And when I finally made that, when I finally reached 16 years old, I went and I was excited, but they asked for verification. I'm a veteran, and I and other veterans have lost benefits due to lost paperwork by the government, but no one took our word for it. The entire premise of law and order is based on verification. So, those who would abuse the system are unable to. Likely the reason we do not have laws yet in this area is the courts are grappling with how to avoid abuse without validation or verification which is problematic and counter to our current rule of law which we all rely upon for our safety and our way of life.

211Please vote no until there is a way to avoid potential abuse. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Margaret Lozelle. Margaret, thank you. Um, I've been a home owner and a resident of Prince William County for the past 21 years. I'm a mother of seven children. I'm a Catholic Christian. Um, this gender identity policy is being debated in courts all across the nation and is even on its way to the Virginia Supreme Court. 24 states have sued the federal government over trying to force this same policy on public schools that we are being or that has been proposed um by you to us here in Prince William County. Moving forward with this policy at this point in time in Prince William County could open up the county to frivolous lawsuits and protracted litigation that

212drain the taxpayer resources resources that are already um very limited and that could be allocated to classrooms across the county. While the constitutionality of this policy change is debated in the courts, Prince William, the Prince William School Board should put this on hold until the Supreme Court and the Virginia Supreme Court have ruled on this matter. Previous rulings have a significant impact on future rulings. Precedent will be set by the United States Supreme Court and the Virginia Supreme Court very soon. Why not wait and see what happens elsewhere before we make changes to the existing policy? If the school board believes that some action is necessary immediately, here are three suggestions. Evaluate the track record of the transgender welfare in the Prince William County schools and determine if there's a problem that exists here. Take

213time to debate the implement implementation logistics and then the unintended consequences of this policy change and then watch and study how this gender identity policy implementation is unfolding across the country so we can learn from their experiences before moving forward and stepping into it. here. I ask you respectfully to vote no to changes in policy 060 and I ask anyone in the room who has not had a chance to come to the microphone to please stand um if they support what I had to say. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Dennis Ho. Dennis. Dennis. Dennis, did you say Daniel Ken? No, I said Dennis Ho. H A Y O is what I have on my sheet. Dennis. No. No. Dennis. Okay. Sorry. A lot of movement. I'm making sure I don't skip over

214anybody. Uh Patrick O'Neal is our next speaker. Patrick, you got me. Well, good evening. My name is Patrick O'Neal and I've uh grown up in Prince William County. Uh I went to Brensville High School growing up and I'm currently a resident uh as well. I'm here to speak today in opposition to the proposed changes to policy 60. As a parent of three children, a small business owner, and a former police officer, I feel compelled to speak against this imprudent policy. These changes to policy 60, while possibly well-intentioned, fall short in the large scheme of things by putting our children in uncomfortable and very potential unsafe situations. It is my understanding that children who currently feel uncomfortable using restrooms have made other arrangements with school staff to use an alternate private facility such as the nurses

215station, guidance counselor office, or some other private area. I pose this question. If the changes to policy 60 were to pass, would students who become uncomfortable with the changes be afforded the same accommodations that the children who were previously uncomfortable were given? I asked this because the number of students requesting the new special accommodations under the new policy could be quite high. Prince William County already has an anti-bullying policy which many people have brought up today. I don't understand how that does not prevent discrimination, how this policy will prevent it further. There will naturally be bullying. It's a fact of life. It's very unfortunate and I feel very poorly for anyone who feels that they are treated less than equal. But human nature is what it is. We can only govern so far. There have

216been no complaints as it was revealed earlier by Delegate Marshall's testimony in a foyer request. No complaints. your current policy is working. As a former police officer, I feel compelled as someone who has investigated these types of crimes that you could potentially see occur because of this poor policy. The effects of sexual assault don't stop. They continue on with victims the rest of their lives. Our girls deserve better. Have you asked law enforcement their opinion on this? Have you asked school security what their implementation measures would be? It keeps coming back to the same answer. It's imprudent. I've given my my wellthoughtout speech, but at the end of the day, it just doesn't make sense. Vote no. Thank you. Our next speaker is Darren Louderder. Darren I'm getting uh I'm getting a lot of requests

217from the Darren. I apologize real quick. Getting a lot of requests from the board for a for a quick fivem minute break. Um pay attention. Yeah. So we stretch our legs and pay attention here without objection from the board for a 5m minute break. Um we'll return at 10. I'm seeing 10:18. 10:18. So be it. Five minute break. That [Music] is heat. [Music] Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Why are you [Music] open? Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Yeah. [Music] Sorry. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] I can call the school board members back to the deis please so we

218can get rolling. [Music] All right, we are back to our speakers. We are back to I believe it was Darren Louden is where we left off. Mr. Louden, sorry. Louder. Excuse me. Lauder. And it is your it is your time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I stand as a father of four children in the district, uh, attending every level of school, elementary, middle school, and high school. Um, three daughters and and one boy. And, um, like every parent, every morning, we send off our most valuable possessions and entrust them to the care of this district. And like most parents here tonight, I would rather be home with them tonight. I'm also representing my wife Jeanie who um is a social worker who speaks with greater passion than I do and who has brought her experience

219and been pulled into this um this issue um because of her experience with those most vulnerable and those who've been traumatized in a number of ways that would be impacted by this policy. Um, I appreciate the care that this board has taken in ensuring that important matters such as appointing a temporary replacement member of this board and to make sure this is done in a careful deliberate manner. It is uh all the more jarring then to see the rash and apparently uninformed at least from the public record decision and approach that's been taken on non-discrimination policy change. The single most important fundamental obligation of this district and this board is to ensure to absolutely guarantee the individual and personal well-being and safety of each and every child entrusted to their care each day. But the

220board cannot possibly ensure any parent that this policy change will protect our children since the board has not again apparently studied or shared how the policy will be implemented with parents and the public. I had a very positive, productive discussion earlier this evening during during uh um as I stepped out into the hallway with one of the earlier speakers, Danica Rome, in which we discussed the possible impact of implementations of this policy change and other related issues from from Danica's perspective. And that discussion was productive because it was a respectful open discussion of concerns from people on both sides of this issue. and it was done without an absurdly short timeline imposed on the debate and on the discussion and on the study of the issues. I would be honored, like many others, to serve

221alongside Danica Rome or someone else with Danica's perspective on addressing these issues and ensuring that all children are protected, ensuring that all of the concerns are addressed and in doing it in a thoughtful, measured way and helping this board to do their homework um rather than the short-sighted divisive uh manner that it's been brought. Please vote no. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Nancy Crotow. Nancy Nancy uh Danielle Canasten. Danielle, sorry if I got that wrong. Danielle, thank you for this opportunity to address you today. My name is Danielle Kennston and um my address should be on file. Um I come to you today um to address you as a mother of five children um in the school district from elementary, middle, and high school. Um and I also come to you as

222um a sexual assault and a sexual abuse survivor. And from that perspective, I would I generally I like to keep that as something private. But I feel like this has I feel compelled to share with you my feelings about this issue because there the justice department says one in four girls will be sexually abused before they're 18. So I feel like I need to be a voice for them. I know for me personally even though it's been decades since I've been abused and I come from a healthy place. I know that I personally if a man were to come into the restroom or into locker room for me it would cause me anxiety and fear. And there are young girls who we can all agree tonight. We want everybody to feel of worth and valued

223and loved and safe. And that doesn't just go for transgendered the LGBT community, but it goes for all children, especially these girls who have been through enough. We currently live in a very polarized world and it seems like everybody's trying to say there can only be a winner and a loser. And it's sad that we've gotten to this point, but I would hate to see that in order for people to win that these poor girls would have to lose. I can tell you from experience, it would be terrifying to be in that kind of an environment. We would just simply be revictimizing these girls again. And that would be wrong. Um, I would like to ask you um for the safety of these girls, for their security that we need to vote no on this

224on 60. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Steve Bender. Mr. Bender, be coming to the podium. Before you get going, Mr. Bender, I'm going to call the remaining uh not remaining, I'm going to call the next 10 call the next 10 speakers up to the front row here. um is of course you're Steve uh Shereice Rushing, Giovana Null, Brad Bromel, Wally Kubittz, John Czechco, Cynthia Fillinger, Father Thomas Vanderwood, Asan Islam, Steven Marbach, and Amy Lopez. If you could come up to the front row, please. The next 10 speakers after that, just giving you your heads up, Josh Hetsler, Nikki Lindhorst, Andrew Perllock, Mike Hadro, Bob Martin, William Card, Jessica Golden, Ella Golden, Christy Brocks, and Heather Mosser. Those are the the the 10 after that. So, we are back to you, Mr. Bender.

225Got to get more than 12 seconds, right? [Music] Chairman L Sawyers, members of the board, and Dr. Waltz. Tonight, I got a whole list of things. First, the Trenum seat. Commander Trenum's gone. Vote for Shawn. I like Chris. I don't want to put Chris in this mess. Um, second, the policy change. I still oppose the change. It violates the Constitution of Virginia. It's not necessary. No one's yet been able to demonstrate actual discrimination. Uh, I was tempted to say something nice about Mr. Sawyers, but the clerk tells me there isn't an AED in the room, so Oh, why not? Mr. Chairman, uh, you compromised. You softened your proposal. Make no mistake, I still oppose it 100%. But now that you've demonstrated the ability to compromise, we're going to expect you to abandon your Scortster political

226agenda and start dealing with real educational issues in a rational manner for the rest of the term. Finally, I wanted to talk about the calendar if you guys don't mind getting off of the policy thing for a while. Um, Commander Trenham sent out a hybrid calendar to the rest of the board and I support that calendar uh because I'm an officer of election. I'm the chief at Noville in Patriot High School and the calendar creates a couple of problems for us as it is now. We have school on the June primary, which means that under the rules of the Supreme Court, pedophiles, sexual offenders, child molesters, and non-custodial parents are fully able to come on to school grounds where their kids may be in school if they're registered to vote there. And then they have

227access to the school because they're no none of those voters are checked in through the normal security process. That's a risk and we don't like being in the position where we have to take care of those people because we have no idea who they are. Secondly, in November, yeah, it's not school day. So, we solved that problem, but we still have the problem with parking at the elementary schools and there's 50ome precincts that are elementary school parking lots which have very few spaces and you're going to have voters there, you're going to have teachers there, and you're going to have parents coming in for conferences. and there's not enough parking. As a chief, I have the right to go mark off spaces for voters. And if I have problems with teachers and parents taking those

228spaces, and so my voters drive up, there's nowhere to park and they leave without voting. Uh I don't have a lot of recourse left. One thing I am allowed to do, not that anybody would necessarily do it, but I get a majority vote of my election board, my election workers in there. we can have a teacher arrested and held for 24 hours for interfering with an election by taking the spot. We don't want to be in that position. So, thank you very much for your time tonight. And if you'd like to forget all of this next week, suggest cutting football. Thank you. Our next speaker is Charice Rushing. Cherries Giovana null Giovana Brad Burmel Brad Thank you Mr. Chairman, thank you board members. Thank you, Superintendent. My name is Brad Brummel, 12620 Bristo Road in

229Noville. I'm in the Brentsville district. I stand with Bob Marshall. I'm in awe at the wonderful, eloquent people that I live with. I had no idea we had such fantastic intellect in this community. I don't know what else to say. I was looking at our regulation 733 and I was thinking, "Yeah, now I know why it's so hard to implement. Now I know why policy doesn't seem to protect these kids from being bullied." Right? Let me quote. Bullying means the aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to intimidate or humiliate the victim. It involves real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor and the victim and is repeated over and over and causing emotional trauma. I'm a Brentville district resident and you guys are voting. My voice is not here. I'm feeling pretty bullied. The

230behavior is unwanted. I've heard so many different reasons why this is unwanted. Today. Tonight. Not saying it's wrong for the future, but tonight. Why tonight? Okay. It's a humiliating that I have no voice in this here. I have no voice. It's humiliating. It's a power imbalance created by Gil Trenum's absence. And as a veteran, it's again humiliating that his national service is being used for political gain. And yes, there is emotional trauma. And guess what? The repeated over and over part is not me. Unfortunately, it's my kids. It's my children have to live with this 180 or 178 days a year for until they're 18 years old. Okay. So, sir, I think bullying starts at the top. So, so if we have zero tolerance for bullying, what's the recourse if it starts at the top?

231Why don't we postpone? Why don't we come together? I love what the man said just a minute ago. I would also be honored to work with the community to find alternatives and solutions that work for everyone. We don't seem to be following the rules. I haven't seen council McGawan's write up um with uh regulation 140 on our you know h how does this play against article 18 section 372 right where it talks about obscene how does it go up against uh indecent exposure in in uh 387 why isn't this stuff being provided to us that's all I had to say thank you our next speaker is Wally Kubittz Wall-E. Recently, two medical researchers from John's Hopkins University did a very thorough and careful evaluation of the scientific studies that are used to support the popular

232notions about gender identity. These researchers concluded that these popular notions are not truly scientifically proved. They said, quote, "The hypothesis that gender identity is an innate fixed property of human beings that is independent of biological sex is not supported by scientific evidence." end of quote. For the record, I have a copy of that report that I'd like to leave with you. I have two extra copies that the board can pass out amongst themselves. And for each of you, I have a copy of a newspaper writeup about this study. Part of the problem with which these researchers point out is that what all comprises gender identity can't really be defined with specificity and can't really be measured scientifically. Gender identity, as these researchers put it, is an elusive concept. The bottom line is this. Before leaving

233the scientific certainty of biological sex differences and starting down the slippery slope of deciding things based on gender identity, whatever that might be, there must be incontrovertible scientific proof to justify this. That proof simply is not there. For the sake of the physical and moral well-being of the children in the Prince William County public schools, stick with the scientific certainties of biological sex differences. To do otherwise is risky and devilish. Children need stability, including moral stability. There can be no moral stability when we try to legitimize practices like homosexuality and transgenderism that God himself is already judged to be abominable, sinful, damning, and damaging. You are playing with fire. If you influence children or encourage them to dabble in this or experiment with it, please do not do this. It is playing with fire. Thank

234you very much. Thank you. Our next speaker is John Czecho. John, Mr. Chairman, board members, my name is John Czecho. My address is on file. I applaud the children who spoke who stood up here and spoke to you earlier this evening. Um, I've been called on twice to deploy for my nation in defense of the rights of minorities and those who didn't have a voice. I'm from Brentsville and I'm disturbed that uh, Mr. Trenham is not represented I'm not represented here today. I've always taken it for granted that no matter where I was in the world, my voice, my vote counted until tonight. I'm deeply concerned regarding the current proposition. I stand firmly against discrimination in any form, but our first priority must be to protect the safety and sanctity of our children. I fear

235I have nothing new to add to this conversation, but those of you who are educators, I hope can appreciate that sometimes repetition helps. I agree that all children need to be protected. But I fear that this policy, though well-meaning, I'm sure, as it currently stands, leaves all children more v vulnerable. Opening bathrooms and locker rooms to self-determination for students, faculty, and visitors alike is simply irresponsible. The rules and safeguards have not yet been put into place to prevent abuse at the expense of our sons and daughters. Once the doors are open, I fear that nothing short of the Supreme Court can close them again. I expect that the freedom that we have to operate our schools that you currently enjoy could be severely limited through litigation. Let us take the time to establish the policies

236to protect our children, all children, rather than rushing forward only to try to repair the damage later. Bathrooms and locker rooms can be a scary place for a kid. I understand that many girls already have body image issues and as a former boy I remember being intimidated not wanting to be singled out in the locker room. Now imagine I try to imagine throwing children of the opposite biological sex into the mix undressed and naked. How is this helping anyone? I heard children speak of their concerns. I did not hear anyone say that they actually wanted to go into the other bathroom and undress. Once gender and orientation are long no longer factors, imagine having a coach of the opposite sex in with the athletes. Imagine a custodial worker free to move between bathrooms while they're

237still occupied or locker rooms. This is a slippery slope argument, but where do you draw the line? Once the doors are open, you can't. Please vote no. Thank you. Our next speaker is Cynthia Fillinger. Cynthia. Cynthia. Mr. Chairman, board members, Dr. Waltz, thank you for the opportunity to come and speak to you this evening about this important matter. I have three primary concerns about this policy that you have proposed. First, as others have mentioned, I'm concerned about the haste in which this decision has been examined. My understanding is that you have examined records and found no evidence or documentation that would require such a solution. There has been no communication or planning with your school staff for how this would be implemented. There has been no public announcement to your parents regarding this matter. And

238I'm also concerned that you're pressing for a decision on this tonight when there is no representation from the people for the people of the Brentsville district. You should allow for the return of their representative before taking a vote on such an important matter. Second, as has been mentioned earlier, since this matter is already being considered in the Virginia Supreme Court and there are other legal cases being considered, it would seem an unwise financial policy to use our tax dollars to defend what would reasonably be expected to be legal challenges to this matter. My final concern is more personal. No child should ever be forced to undress in the presence of the opposite sex. This policy would violate that child's dignity. It would harm their privacy and it may jeopardize their safety. According to the rape,

239abuse, and incest national network, one out of every six women in America has been a victim of sexual assault. I am a mother of six daughters. I would like to tell you, Mr. Chairman, that that statistic is unreasonable. But I stand here tonight to tell you that it's accurate. You are considering a policy that may force girls to be unwilling participants in the viewing of male genitalia. I'm appalled that you would consider such a thing. I am 100% in favor of protecting the dignity and safety of all individuals regardless of their choices. Miss Jesse, I'm one of your constituents in the Aquaan district. I've read many things that you've written and I share many of your educational views. I am appealing to you as an educator and as a mom to care for these children

240in the best way possible. This is not an eitheror choice. It's possible for you to protect all children without adopting this policy. There was nothing I could do to protect my daughter, but I'm asking you to protect these children. Our next speaker is Father Thomas Vanderwood. Father Thomas. Father Thomas. Yes, sir. Sorry. I'm trying to speak as loudly as I can. We need we do need some order. We've got to move on. We do have to keep plugging away. I appreciate your energy, but we do have to keep plugging away. Father Thomas, Mr. Chairman and Superintendent and the school board. Uh good to be with you tonight. Um first of all, love each one of you. Um pray for you. Um your decisions that you have to make. Um, we're taught um as Christians to

241love God, love our neighbor as oursel, and that's that's what we're about. And that's every person. Um, that's every person. Okay. I'm from the best district. Uh, my family uh moved to the county in 1981 and I've been in and out of the county ever since. Others have been telling me what to do. Um, and the last 5 years I've been back in the county. Um, but I represent uh just personally my mom and number my brothers and um about 20 nieces, nephews um with this policy that they are considering changing um 060 to change that non-discrimination policy. Um, and you know, I many things have been said tonight I don't need to reiterate. Um, I I think it is it does bear re reiteration uh first of all from Brenfield District that you know

242we don't have any any say uh tonight. Um Chairman sorry you live right down the road from us. So you're same district so you get you you do get a say tonight. Um but the rest of us do not. Um we're not represented. Um, but then also on a more personal level, I heard it mentioned just once about the vulnerability of the the special needs kids. Um, I mentioned my family. I didn't mention my dad uh who eight years ago died saving my youngest brother who has Down syndrome. Um, and uh I think of the Down syndrome kids. I think of all those with special needs who um we very vulnerable by this. And we've we've been talking about the the young ladies, the girls, and maybe the ones that perhaps could stick up for

243themselves to some degree, but the special needs kids aren't being talked about at all. Um, so I ask you to please consider them uh in this decision. Um, you know, I we heard the numbers one in four, one in six girls abused. Um, and we're not talking, we're talking about those predators who would abuse this, huh? Um, that would do this. Um, heaven forbid that we allow them more access especially to our special needs kids. Um, thank you very much for your time. God bless you. Thank you. The next speaker is Asan Islam. Good evening. My name is Asan Islam. My address is on the file. I thank the school board for his service and giving me the opportunity to talk before you. I'm the president of Darl Nor Islamic Community Center. Over 2,000 Prince

244William County residents of Islamic faith are associated with Darl No. First of all, I truly believe every child, regardless of his or her faith, gender, color, race, ethnicity, and personal preferences, must be treated with dignity and equal right without any preferential treatment and must not be subject to any bully. For that very reason, I believe this proposed bill proposal is not only unnecessary. It endangers our children. And I stand before you to strongly oppose this proposal. No one has right to force my sons or daughters to be exposed of his or her privacy to the opposite biological gender. This proposal simply demeans a child's dignity. I am appalled because this proposal is subjecting our students to humiliation by the opposite biological gender. And I am disgusted that the board is trying to set precedents to

245tell our students that it's okay to undress or take your n take care of your nature calls in front of another person of opposite biological gender. My respected board school board members, please do not harm our children with this proposal which has nothing to do with sexual orientation or gender identification or discrimination. With this proposal, you're only satisfying a special interest group. And please don't, Mr. Chairman, you are elected to hold this position to protect all students, not a special interest group. If you are truly concerned about the students bullying, I urge you to look into where the real problems are. When my daughter is harassed in the school hallway for her headscarf, my son's friend is called that his parents are from a terrorist country or my daughter is called she's a nuthad because

246of her good grade. Mr. chairman, that's real bully and I hope you would address that rather than this in my view is a fantasy of bully. It's not. Thank you. Please vote no. Our next speaker is Stephen Marbach. Stephen. Hi. Good evening. My name is Steven Marbach. My information is on file. I'm out near Splashdown Water Park. Um, and like many, uh, I've probably changed my prepared thoughts several times tonight because, uh, repetition is is, uh, it's all there. Um, but I I thought, uh, I'd take some of my time to just help us recall some first principles. Um, I I marvel at the fact that we as as humans have the longest maturity curve of any creature you can point to on the planet. Um, 14 to 22 years before you're considered an adult.

247Um, and you start thinking about all that, there's there's it really starts to suggest design. There's lots of reasons for that. Um, I have four small children. They're all terrorists. They're under nine and they don't reason very well. I I don't let them vote for things because they they don't have the faculties. Um we have to raise our kids. They they're in this fantastic period of innocence and that's what they're supposed to be. They're supposed to be in this period of innocence where they get to play and their imaginations run wild. But that's that's what it is. It's their imaginations running wild. They're learning this experience. They're learning what it means to be in a body and to see this body grow and change. and um and that imagine runs wild. Uh I have to

248tell my child, "No, he's not the puppy. He's not the family pet. He has to eat at the table like an adult." I have to pull them back into reality. Um as they get older, they're going to have the whole entire challenge of puberty and emotions, and they have to learn the difference between reason and coming up with arguments based off of what's logical and emotions. And emotions are very powerful and persuasive, but they're not rational by definition. they're they're irrational. And so we have to learn to teach them and that's the job of the school to teach them to make arguments that are rational and persuasive. That's the job of sales. And what I'm finding more and more of problem in society in general is this absolute lack of logic and reason. It's all

249emotion. I feel I want I I got to do this. And that breeds victimhood. And so like many people have pointed out here today, the best policy is all uh all are are protected by the non-discrimination. And I' I'd wrap up my thoughts with trying to add some charity. I'm I'm really extremely frustrated with you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate your cander to sit through this. I wouldn't want to have to sit through a thousand people to tell me where I stepped in it, but you stepped in it. You did. And sir, where where I have the greatest concern for you is losing all credibility. Losing all credibility in the manner in which you've tried to run this through, especially taking advantage of a man who put himself downrange in front of the enemy to take

250take advantage to push this through. So I would ask you to not harden your heart during this time and really consider this a measure and let our next speaker our next speaker is Amy Lopez. [Applause] Amy, good evening chairman and thank you for your time tonight. My name is Amy Lopez and I'm a parent to three children and a resident in Miss Jezy's district. My address is on file. In 2012, my kindergarten son was sent home with a referral for showing his bottom at school. After I spoke with his teacher and the vice principal, I understood that he dropped his pants while using the bathroom, which made the other boys in the bathroom uncomfortable. He was 6 years old. He was using the bathroom the only way he knew how. He didn't do this to

251offend anyone. He didn't do this because he was being malicious. He was simply using the bathroom. My daughter will be entering kindergarten in the fall. And she will be using the bathroom. I can only imagine the discomfort that she may feel if put in that situation with someone of the opposite gender using that bathroom. the only way that that child knows how. My children feel safe at school. But amending policy 060 could eventually lead to a situation where my daughter and my son's rights and safety are violated. I also have a middle school son who when asked what he would do if a biological female were in the locker room, he simply said that would be weird. Well, he may eventually under this policy be forced to change in the locker room with a biological

252female. Children should never be forced to undress or use the bathroom in the presence of the opposite sex. Members of the board, I humbly ask you to vote no on this policy. Thank you. I need to call up the next 10 speakers, please. I got ahead of myself and didn't call up the next 10 speakers. So, the next 10 the next 10 speakers uh will be you can come on up please. The next 10 speakers Josh Hetsler, Nikki Lindhorst, Andrew Perllick, Mike Hadro, Bob Martin, William Card, Jessica Golden, Ella Golden, Christy Brocks, and Heather Mosser or Moser. And then the next 10 speakers are Jennifer Nicicoen, Joe Lion, Andrew Mesa, Bishop Lyall Dukes, Joshua Kalori, Amanda Bates, Stan So Sozinski, Jerry Meredith, Mark Bolan, and Kevin Allen. So we are at speaker Josh Hetsler. Josh

253Josh Nikki Lindhorst. Nikki, good evening. I think it's still evening, isn't it? All right. I say good evening. Um, I appreciate you allowing me the opportunity to address you here this evening. Uh, my name is, uh, Nikki Linhorst. U my address is on file and I'm in Miss Jesse's district um up in Lacage. Um anyway, thank you very much for allowing me to come talk to you a little bit. Um I'm probably going to repeat of a lot of what you've already heard, but you know, law of recency, so let's go with that. Um Mr. Chairman, members of the board, Dr. Waltz, I'm here today to present my position of disagreement with this proposal. Honestly, I'm not surprised that this is on the ballot because as we've heard, it's on and a lot of U

254school districts right now are face facing the same proposition. Um lots of discussion on it. What I am surprised about, however, Mr. Chairman, is that you've brought it the way that you have. I've been in this school district for seven years now and I I pride myself for choosing this district. This is a great school district. My kids love it here. They also feel safe here. Now, we in our neighborhood often joke about how anytime there is something going on at the school, we get a text. We get an email. We get a phone call from multiple schools of everything that's going on. And I'm appalled that I did not get any sort of notification that this was happening. As I've watched you, Mr. Sawyers, it would be appreciative if you would actually look everybody

255in the eyes since this was your proposal. I am appalled as a veteran I am appalled as a veteran currently serving that you would offer up a vote with my fellow service member in harm's way. How dare you, Mr. Chairman? On behalf of my daughter who does not want to have to change in front of the opposite sex, please, I implore you to vote no. This is not okay. Think about your children. Thank you. Our next speaker is Andrew Perllock. Andrew Andrew Andrew Perllik Andrew Perleck. Andrew, good evening. Oh, yes, sir. Got you. Good evening. Uh, I'm a longtime resident of Noville, Virginia, 25 years. Uh, most of what I'm going to say was said before, but perhaps with a different tone. Uh, this is my first meeting uh with the school board, so the

256entire discussion is new for me. So, I have at least a fresh eye view of what's happening here. I've observed our young women here who passionately are concerned about their safety. Uh, involuntary, I'll repeat, involuntary exposure of our children's bodies to another person for any reason. Even if it has uh even if they have the same anatomy is an invasion of privacy. Period. It does they don't have to be transgender. They can be the same sex. It's up to them whether they expose themselves or not. Okay? Now, I've also had to look and check around. Who's the bully in this room? I've identified the bully. It's the members that voted for 06 on your board, sir. You are the bullies, not these people. You are. And everyone had voted for 06. By what right? And

257whose authority do you have to demand that biological females undress and shower with biological males in our schools? What right and whose authority are you quoting? On what basis? If you want to do something, if it doesn't already exist, it should be develop a student's bill of rights so that all students know what their rights are. If does one exist now, Dr. Waltz, do you know? It does. Does a student's bill of rights exist? Sir, the board and the superintendent don't comment during citizens time, sir. My apologies. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Our next speaker is Mike Hadro. Mike. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, Dr. Waltz. I'd like to uh I'd like to take a moment and back up for a second. First of all, I'm uh a father

258of 10 and a grandfather of 14, 10 of whom are girls. Now, I'm not a lawyer, but as I understand it, Virginia Code and Dylan's rule prohibit local governing bodies, including school boards, from expanding the universe of protected classes beyond what has been defined as a protected class by the General Assembly. To my knowledge, the general assembly has not included either sexual orientation or gender identity as protected classes under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Therefore, it appears the school board lacks authority to add those classes to its non-discrimination policy. So, Mr. Chairman, I ask you in all due respect, under what authority do you bring this issue to a vote? May I have your answer, sir? We don't comment during citizens time. If you cannot so state, then you're not empowered to conduct

259a vote on this issue. So, I don't ask you to vote yes or no. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Bob Martin. Bob. Bob Martin. My name's Bob Martin. I've lived in this county. Excuse me. The clerk has my formal remarks and my address. I've lived in the county since 1967. This is the worst school board I've experienced. I'm proud to be here this evening, not because of the board, but because of the people behind me and sitting in the outer rooms. We are seeing and hearing America at work. democracy. People standing up for their rights and the rights in this case of their children and they're calling the board who are charged with the responsibility to oversee the safety, welfare and education of those children effectively do their job and not what

260they individually are chose to do. I'm proud of these people. I'm proud of our children. Dr. Waltz, you and your staff are to be to congratulated for the educational process that you're putting my children, my grandchildren through. Tonight, we had an example of your teaching capabilities and education. Wellspoken, well-mannered young people, 13 years old, speaking more eloquently than many adults can. And what were they saying? They were actually crying for help. They were crying for each member of this board to take care of them, keep them safe, not to expose them to things that are morally wrong and go contrary to normal, acceptable social behavior. Any human being who thinks he can write a law that will prohibit discrimination, harassment, or bullying must perceive himself to be God because he's the only one that can

261do it. And you've all lived long enough to know that laws have been passed and we still have bullies. We still have harassments. The question tonight is not 060. The question tonight is, have you been listening to your constituency? But more importantly, have you been listening to the students they're ch you're charged to care for? That ends my comments. I hope you sleep well at night, Mr. Sawyers. Our next speaker is uh William Cart. Mr. Cart. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I'm handing out the the email that I sent. I found out that if you say gender identity and sexual orientation three times in an email, the uh uh your IT server kicks it back. It won't accept it. Um, and and I think honestly the IT server is right in this situation and we

262shouldn't be discussing gender identity and sexual orientation in that. I thank the chairman for his timely response to my position on gender identity and sexual orientation. Uh, but I I am continue to be in serious opposition. uh this effort seems to have one author and one principal supporter and Mr. Chairman you are an elected representative to the pe of the people and your decision should reflect the wishes of these people and not your own. Uh, interestingly enough, this morning the Old Testament portion of my daily devotion uh, ended with Ecclesiastes 9:18. Wisdom is a better weapon of war, but one sinner destroyth much good. And certainly we're in that position this evening. attached attached to the email that I sent to each and every one of you to include uh Commander Gil Trenaman. I hope

263you're you're watching tonight. God bless you, sir. The um uh th this is a fantastic study. It's 144 pages. It's a tough read some for some, but it but it's amazing. You know, people have talked to you about science. Most most of what you probably think about this issue, certainly if you would even consider voting for this 060, most of what you think you know about it is wrong. And and I I provided this both a a link and as an attachment to the email that I sent that I finally managed to break through uh the uh into the school system server. And and honestly, I think the the 300 lb gorilla in the room that has to be addressed is that first and foremost, we do not want the school system experimenting with, reinforcing,

264or cultivating sexual identity in our children. The chairman's move opens the door to requiring our children not only to learn but potentially to adopt attitudes towards sexuality that are not borne out by science. Further, approving this foolish policy would almost certainly place children in conflict with the households which in which they live. were you to have actually read this report. Thank you. I I run out of time. You did. I had some really great stuff. Our next speaker is Jessica Golden. Jessica. Jessica Golden. Ella Golden. Ella. Christy Brocks. Good evening. Um, Mr. Chairman, you have said that our LGBT students are the most vulnerable in our schools. I think every child in our school is vulnerable. Regarding sexuality, their innocence is caught in the snares that we have made in our society where anything goes,

265especially in terms of sexuality. Then we add in the availability of pornography, immodest clothing, advertising, music, in a culture where everything is hypersexualized. Then there are children who aren't sure if they have dinner, struggling with anxiety and and depression. Children struggling with learning deil disabilities or even just learning. There's so many situations situations that no one may even be aware of. Every child is vulnerable. At first, when I wrote this, I was going to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the proposed caveat to exclude lockers and bathrooms from this policy change. But then I looked closer. That caveat changes nothing. It just pushes off that portion of the policy change to a later date. And I think it's pretty evident that our community is very concerned with the privacy and safety of our children. It really

266was just a reverse or a trick play to silence the community about their privacy concerns to move forward with this policy change. Beyond the children's right to privacy, I still have issue with other other possible effects of this change. And there are many. Regardless of how the courts have ruled, my family still believes that a marriage is between a man and a woman. As unpopular as that may be in our society, that is the truth. And we believe and that and we teach that to our children. It's not out of hate. It's not out of fear, but out of the love of love and a belief that God has a divine and natural plan for each one of us. I have a child that will be entering school in three years. What's he going to

267face at that time? Will I have to explain to my elementary school child something that he shouldn't even have to think about at his age? That violates my right to raise my child as I wish without having to introduce him to sexuality at such a young age. It would effectively steal his innocence. And by allowing this policy change, I may not be able to get have that choice for my family. My husband asked a question of whether at some point we'll need a non-discrimination policy for those of us that hold traditional values of gender and marriage. Will my children get in trouble for bullying if they stand up for what they believe in? Unfortunately, I think they might. Right now, the teachers, the staff, and administration are put in a position where they may have

268to enforce or teach something that they're morally against. And they have no voice. They can't speak up now in protest or if and if this passes their morals and their beliefs will be compromised and held in conflict with their means of supporting their families. I'm also concerned about how this will affect the family life education curriculum. I believe schools should just stick to the basic biology and anatomy of our students. In no way do I promote hate, harassment, or bullying of any student or teacher for any reason. Oh, that's my time. And my husband and I teach our children. Every child has an innate dignity. So, let's focus on the bullying. Thank you. Our next speaker is Heather Moser. Heather. And Heather, before you get going here, I'm going to call up the next 10

269speakers. If we could clear clear the front row, unless you're waiting uh for for Heather, you're welcome to sit there. The next 10 speakers will be Jennifer Nicollesen, Joe Lion, Andrew Mesa, Bishop Lyall Dukes, Joshua Kalori, Amanda Bates, Stan Subzinski, Jerry Meredith, Mark Bolin, and Kevin Allen. And then I'm going to call up uh the remaining speakers that have signed up ahead of time before we move on to the late signups. So, the remaining speakers that signed up ahead of time are Ronnie Ortiz, Cynthia Howress, Paul Fleellen, Carla Haran, Linda White, Keverber Gimenez, uh Arthur Dangum, Christine Dangum, Marvin Zaldavar, Dia, uh Dana Salavar, and then Pam Allar. So, those last 11 people that I called, you can hold tight. Um, and everyone up through uh well, the next 10 that I called up, please

270come up to the front and then we'll we'll keep moving. So, Heather, the floor is yours. Okay. Thank you. Um, hello. My name is Heather Moser. I'm a junior at Garfield Senior High School, and I stand before you as the president of my school's Gay Street Alliance. In high school, we are told that the next four years are supposed to be ones to remember. However, they often neglect to inform us that these struggles that come along the way, and unfortunately, bullying is one that happens all too commonly. It is no secret though that students of the LGBTQ plus community experience in it in a different way. According to GLlisten, 90% of LGBTQ plus students hear anti-LGBTQ plus comments at school. 28% drop out of school due to harassment by peers and 30% account for all

271suicides each year. These students are also more likely to have poorer grades than their straight peers. Considering these statistics, it does not make sense to me why action has not yet been taken. The stories you hear in GSA are truly astounding. Hearing your friends and fellow classmates say, "I want to kill myself. I don't feel safe anywhere I go." It is a feeling that I would like to forget, but I cannot. As a school board, your job is to ensure the safety and education for all students. Emphasis on all. Why not include a policy to further ensure the protection of students? Students who desperately need something like this. We should not be afraid to go to school and we should not be forced to compromise our education over our safety. Lives are truly at stake

272and I hope you guys make um a logical and correct decision. Thank you so much. Our next speaker is Jennifer Nicicoen. Jennifer, I apologize if I got that wrong. Jennifer, no pro no problem. Thank you, sir. Uh my name is Jennifer Nicoly. I'm in Woodbridge. Uh I have a three-year-old daughter. She will be going to Rosa Parks Elementary School in two years. Uh I'm here just as a basic mom and a member of the community. You know, when I had my daughter, I never would have even thought that one of the first things that she would have when she's entering elementary school is that I may have to explain to her why she has boys in the bathroom with her. You know, my thought for her, my my ambition for her would be that she

273would not have another male see her naked until the night of her wedding. and she would not see a male until the night of her wedding. That that would be my that would might be my hope. But if this policy is passed, truly when she goes to junior high school, she starts undressing in front of the boys um that could enter the locker room. I remember when I was a teenager, I remember sixth grade going and changing in front of others in that locker room for the first time and just feeling vulnerable, very vulnerable, especially changing clothes to go swimming. You're completely naked. You're completely vulnerable and anybody could walk in. I just don't understand how that could be um how anybody could think that's reasonable. Um and it and it scares me. It makes

274me sick to my stomach. It makes me emotional to even to even think. Sorry, sweetie. I know that you are very uncomfortable at what happened at school yesterday because somebody came into the locker room and it was a boy, but I have to go to work and I can't homeschool you and you have to go back and do it again. No matter how embarrassing it might be to you, no matter how uncomfortable you might be, you have to do it because you have to get an education. I can't go to jail because you can't go to school. It's just I It's just unfathomable to me that we are even here. It's 11:20 at night. My daughter's bedtime, she's here with me. I'm a single mom. She's three years old. She's happy as can be back

275there. But her bedtime was 4 hours ago. But this is important to me that maybe tonight we don't get a lot of sleep and hopes that in the future this is going to allow us not to spend many many many nights losing sleep over this very issue. I thank you for your time. Thank you. Our next speaker our next speaker is Joe Lion. Joe Lion. Joe, good evening. Thank you for being here. Thank you for uh putting up with all of us. Um but you have to because you have to listen to what all these folks are saying. The whole reason we're here has nothing to do with bullying. This is a non-discrimination policy which is designed to force the acceptance of members of the opposite sex into our private areas of uh of the

276school. Areas that are reserved for privacy and modesty areas that uh members uh students want to feel safe um so they can take care of business, so they can change their clothes, so they can shower. Um part of the uh part of the uh uh facious arguments you heard tonight um constitution does protect the rights of minorities but not over the rights of the majority. The majority do have rights too and they do deserve to be heard and they do deserve representation especially dy-elected representation. As a Navy reservist, I am uh very disheartened, saddened, and angered um by the actions uh of this board with regard to the Brentville district and the disenfranchisement of their of their uh of their vote. Secondly, with regard to uh basic biology here, we're still talking about men and

277women. A man who puts on a dress is a man wearing a dress. A man who wants to be a woman is a man pretending to be a woman. Doesn't matter what you call yourself. You're still a man or you're still a woman. It's XXY. It's basic biology. Doesn't change. I can't put lipstick on it and call myself a woman. Doesn't make me one. This policy will open up the door to uh anybody who wishes to abuse uh you to abuse this policy. I can foresee foresee a time here where we're going to have male coaches who encourage their lesser able male students to u identify as females so that they can participate and earn varsity letters so they can represent the school at at district state and regional meets. This opens up a Pandora

278box that to who knows where. It's a slippery slope. You don't want to go there. I urge you strongly to vote no. Thank you. Our next speaker is Andrew Mesa. Andrew Mesa. And Andrew. Hello. My name is Andrew Mesa and um before I speak on behalf of what I believe in, I would like to first point out that I am living proof about these statistics that are being um falsely accused of missing. Um, I doubt anyone in this room has had to know what it's like to walk home after coming out and be followed by people and be called degrading names. I mean, literally, I I literally wore going going to school and feeling amazing in my heels. Going to school and feeling amazing in the clothes I love. Just to have the football team

279push me. Just to have the football team take my clothes off. just to have the push football team record me. I'd also like to say I'd also like to say that this stigma, this bathroom stigma, this bathroom stigma of equity is only being invaded by those cisgender heterosexual males, not those people given the privilege. And I'd also like to denounce a lot of religious marks made. Um, realistically, when you try to make a governance, you do not focus on bias. We are not a theocracy. We focus on unbiased. And that's why I'm here to speak. I could be religious. I could be an atheist, but honestly, I'm going to do what's best for everyone. Um, I have done a lot of accomplishments. Not to get on the happy side. I'm the founder and GSA of

280Kogan Senior High School. I'm also the founder of the model UN at Kogan Senior High School. I'm an ML MLK oratory annual competitor. And lastly, I'm a born and raised Latino gay citizen in Prince William County. 30 to 40% of LGBT youth have attempted suicide. And let's imagine I was a part of that youth that lost their lives. When I grow up, I want to be a politician and a journalist. But no matter what I do in this world that I love, I honestly love being here. I am nothing but a in the eyes of many. I'd also like to bring the attention of the political demograph. Most of these people complain that Jill Trenum is not here, but most of the people here are literally from Brentsville. Um, I'd also like to tell you

281guys, and lastly, please, please do not forget that what is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Bishop Lyall Dukes. Bishop, good evening to to the school board members and to all of you that are here. Um, just uh from the the comments that were just made. I I want to just to say that, you know, I I am a a pastor uh of a local church, Harvest Life Changers Church, and really we we really believe um and from the core that that love is the key. And so we love everyone. There's no one that we uh do not respect, do not understand that they have life in them. So love is really a part of the agenda uh of the

282Christian and I I'm not sure what other people have experienced but I would tell you from the word of God um the key is love and God is love. Uh, but I do want to say that that my comments I kind of shortened them tonight because I don't want to um belabor the point, but uh I want to echo some of the same things that uh many have said in opposition to uh the policy update that will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Prince County uh school non-discrimination policy. Uh, I would like for the board to consider that when you change a policy um for the purpose of granting civil liberties to a few students, please thoroughly ensure that you're not taking away other civil liberties from other students. And so this is

283very very important. Um sometimes we'll do things and we'll change things but we need to take uh into account that when we do that uh we we're actually putting other people uh in jeopardy. A quick search of the internet you can find what happens when students uh uh to students when these policies are enforced. Fear and intimidation uh by the presence of the opposite sex. even medical issues such as urinary tract infections for students that refuse uh to use the bathroom with somebody who is bi biologically different than them. And I am a grown man and I feel even at this stage I would feel uncomfortable using the restroom facilities or changing in a locker room with somebody from uh the opposite sex. So um I I ask that you would think about our children.

284It is the duty of the school board to provide a safe and comfortable and progressive uh education environment for our children. With the 88,000 students, we have to consider all of them. And um I ask that you would uh vote no uh concerning this policy update. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Joshua Kalori. Joshua. Joshua. H yeah, it's it's Calori, but even I have a tough time pronouncing it. Um uh first of all, thank you very much for having me here today. I appreciate all of your time. Um so, uh and let me also comment the kid who had the 2,000 signatures in the box and the king thing was great. Um so I just want to take a quick second. I want you to guys to close your eyes and I want

285you to imagine a young woman um who's in a hotel room or in a locker room cornered by a young man who's uh who's commanded by his passions. And imagine that person is your mother, your daughter, uh your niece, whatever. Um, but I just want you guys to to have that sort of sort of image in your minds because that may be just what happens. Um, it's it's the terrible situation nobody wants to think about, but it just might happen. Um, so I tried to I wanted to keep religion out of this, but it seems I have two members of my youth group here today. Um and uh so uh as a youth group leader um it's my job to keep them safe, happy, and healthy. Uh so with that being said, uh I want

286to make sure that that happens. So that's why I'm here today uh to make sure that they're not put in a situation like the one I've just described because I it touches me to my my deepest heart of hearts that someone might be sexually assaulted like that. Um now to go to to the point of the young man who came up here. I I was a graduate graduate of Osborne High School. I was I I considered suicide. I I was bullied. I, you know, they had a picture in history class of the guy who ran the original KKK and they just they saw me and they just, oh, you know, he's he's the KKK guy. Of course, I I don't share those leanings at all. But, you know, and it was the I was also

287called a narc just because, you know, I'm me. So, I I had those feelings. I I had thoughts of suicide. I'm a heterosexual male. So it's not those problems are not unique to the the LGBTQ commi community. So I think that's that's something that uh we need to address. Um and I also think in the political environment that we live in today that this measure is being forced. Uh and I I do not agree with that. That's why that's another thing I wanted to mention today. Don't act because of the political environment. act for the benefit of our children. I I ask I I I sincerely ask you to do that. So, uh with the time I have left, um once again, it's our job to to love and protect our children, and I ask

288that you guys would vote no on this so that we can fully live out that commitment. Thank you. Vote. Our next speaker is Amanda Bates. Amanda, hi. Good evening. Um, two weeks ago, a 12-year-old child stood in front of you. She spoke to you at the last meeting. She was reading a letter from um another student in Princeoom County Schools. Um that child, my Frankie, she's been bullied for over a year because of the way she chooses to dress and the friends that she chooses to have. Um, since that last meeting, she's been bullied even more for defending somebody. Um, she is 12. She hasn't really decided who she is yet, but she doesn't really identify in with either gender. Um, she would love to have somebody at her school to go to, and there

289are a couple people at her school that she could go to. Unfortunately, they can't even talk to her because they'll lose their jobs if they even let on. I mean, they could potentially lose their jobs if they let on that that they might share that they are a homosexual or that they understand where she's coming from. Um, so she'd like to have somebody to go to, but that teacher for having empathy could get into a lot of trouble. Um, there are no ch no teachers at that school that are willing to support my child vocally. They can address her needs as far as bullying goes, but they can't empathize with her. They can't sympathize with her. They can just send her home crying to me. Um, I wasn't even going to speak about my own

290child tonight. I was going to speak about several other students that I have letters from. But my child today told me that when she was on the school bus, some boys were teasing her. They said, "Are you a boy or are you a girl?" And um they were flipping a bottle in the air and they said, "Well, since you won't tell us, if it lands on its head, you're a boy and if it lands on its bottom, then you're a girl." This was devastating. And there is nobody there that is going to stand up and say, "You know what? I know what it was like. I felt that way when I was a child, and I understand." Because they can't. Their job would be at risk for doing so. A teacher can't even announce his

291own marriage at school, which is perfectly legal, without being concerned about his job. And it it exists. It does exist. Um, so equal means always equal. It doesn't mean equal when it's comfortable or when it's convenient. Um, another thing I want to address really quickly is listening to the people in this room reinforces to me the rape culture in our school. Prince William County apparently doesn't trust the boys and the men in Prince William County. So they don't trust them to control their own urges and bodies. Girls are shamed for how they dress and blamed for their own assaults. So when are the males going to be held accountable for their own actions? If the guys can't be trusted in to to if the guys are going to dress up in women's clothing to use

292the bathroom, that sounds like they have the problem, not the people who are LGBT. Thank you. Our next speaker is Stan Sub Soinski. Stan Stan Jerry Meredith. Jerry. Good evening. Um, my name is Jerry Meredith. I'm a My address is on file. I live in the Kohl's district. I'm here as a concerned citizen. I've raised four children. I have 13 grandchildren. Um, none of which uh live in the county, but I do work with a lot of the youth in the county and um volunteer positions. Uh, so I'd like to think that I can help speak for some of the other parents and grandparents. You know, bullying is not new. I had children who were bullied. One, because he was just different. He was had learning disabilities. Even though he was incredibly smart, he acted

293a little different. He spoke differently. I had boys who were bullied because they were straight, because they didn't come to school and speak about their sexual conquests over the weekend because they didn't have any until after they had gotten married. Bullying is not new. It happens. I was bullied as a child because I was one of the smart kids. I was the only girl that was in an advanced math class at 10, 11 years old. That's hard. That's hard. When you don't fit in, anyone who doesn't fit in is subject to being bullied. But as it's been previously spoken, for the last at least five, maybe 10 years, there haven't been any problems raised. There haven't been any concerns raised by parents or students within this county, which is commendable. Even though we're hearing it

294does happen, maybe it's not happening on a scale that seems large enough to actually be noted. Children who have gender identity issues and concerns have been worked with privately for years on this very personal issue. Passing a policy such as the changes that have been proposed to 060 may very well throw these individuals into a spotlight that they don't want to be in and ultimately cause them more harm than good by setting them up to be ostracized, bullied, or subjected to physical harm. I think it's ironic. I noted on the board that uh agenda item 13.02 on the list tonight was bullying awareness month. How ironic is that? I'm also a military veteran and I'm also disturbed that a military veteran couldn't be here tonight to represent his district and that no representation has been

295put into place in hisstead. In light of ongoing litigations and other alcalities and the unknown impact to our school community and the potential for litigation, I ask the board to vote no. Thank you. Our next speaker is Mark Bolin. Mark Bolan. Thanks, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, school board members, for giving me this opportunity to come. Um, and it's ironic that I'm saying this at 11:40, but uh giving us all the opportunities to talk at one time, unlike the last meeting that I was at here. Um, again, my name is Mark Mull. My name, my address is on record. I have six kids, three of which are currently in Prince William County schools. They go to Hey Market. Um, and it's been an absolute great experience this year up until I came to

296the meeting last last uh two weeks ago. Um, and I learned about the uh this issue that was trying to get pushed through and I learned about the lack of representation of um Mr. Trenom. Um, being a former Marine and having deployed myself, I I really find it um, reprehensible that this this severe of a change would try to get pushed through um, without the representation of an entire district. Um, again, I mean, everything's already been said a lot more eloquently than what I can say. So, um I just want to reiterate the fact of of a few speakers. You know, they mentioned um this isn't about um transgender students. This is about people that would take advantage of that. And um I you know to to think that no one would I think is

297a little naive because if this is pushed through it would it would people would take advantage of it. And I ask that I mean if you have children to imagine your daughters coming home and having to tell that to you what happened because of something that was pushed through very quickly and something that was pushed through without proper representation. So, you know, I'm I'm wrapping up quickly. Um I just ask that you represent your districts and uh listen to the voices of everyone that you've you've heard tonight um and you vote no for this. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Kevin Allen. Kevin, and before you get going, Kevin, I'm going to call up the remaining speakers that had signed up ahead of time. Ronnie Ortiz, Cynthia Harris, Paul Fleellen, Carla Haran, Linda

298White, Keverber Gimenez, Arthur Dangum, Christine Dangum, Marvin Zaldavar, Dana Zaldavar, and Pam Allar. Everyone can come up here. those names that I just called can come up here to the front row and your clock starts, sir. Mr. Chairman, rest of the school board, it's uh nice to be with you again. Uh last time I was here, I was the second and last speaker and uh uh citizen comment time, so this is a little bit different tonight. Um I know there's a lot of people here. Um and a lot of people that wanted to speak and had to leave because it's going uh so late tonight. I know they have to get their children home. Um, and I think that's a another reason why you need to examine the rush to get this policy through. Um,

299it's really only come to light the past few weeks and the amount of turnout um, tonight is, I think, unprecedented at a Prince William County School Board. I think, um, you need to pay attention to that. And people, as they get educated about this, are only going to get more impassioned and more active on this issue. And so, I think it's really important that you give them an opportunity to uh, give their voice. Um, I'm obviously opposed to this policy change on the merits. I think it's uh dangerous for our children and I urge you to vote no on this. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Ronnie Ortiz. Ronnie Ortiz. Cynthia Harris. Paul Flewell. Paul Carla Haran. Carla. Thank you. My name is Carla Heran and my husband and I have five children.

300My my address is on file. As human beings, whether we are born male or female, we are born with an intellect. And with this, we have a greater responsibility and accountability for our actions. If we sit back and do nothing, then shame on us. I am against revising policy 060. We cannot allow this to happen because all children are at stake here. We are exposing our students into adult topics faster than their moral innocence allows. Use your intellect and imagine allowing a transgender boy who has decided to identify as a girl and put them in a girl's bathroom, locker room, or any other gender specific arena. Think about the ramifications that would have on all involved. Every issue would be challenged. Safety, ethical, physical, and emotional. Again, think of a transgender girl who has decided

301to identify herself as a boy and throw them into a boy's bathroom. Same thing. No child, whether they be heterosexual, homosexual, or transgender, no child will have a safe place that this policy is promising. Why? Why were public toilets and locker rooms first in existence in the first place? They were created to respect and protect our biological body so that we can feel safe as we are doing our most in intimate functions, whether it be going to the bathroom or changing. Use your intellect and think of the analogy of secondhand smoke. Our children will be forced to breathe in something that is clearly not good for them. We will see the short and long-term consequences of this and the damage will be done and then we're going to be spending the rest of our lives

302trying to repair it. I ask you to think of one last analogy. Think of an anorexic girl. When she looks in the mirror, she sees a completely different view of her body. She truly believes she's fat. Everyone around her clearly sees she's skin and bones. She doesn't need to further encourage her false image of herself. Why would we, who have an intellect, tell her she's fact when she truly is not. She needs our help. The same is true for transgender people. They do not need our policy change. They need our help in dealing with their image and they need our compassion. I urge you to find it in your heart to vote no so that we can all come to a solution to truly help and protect each other. Thank you. Our next speaker is

303Linda White. Linda White. Linda. Keeper Gimenez. Keeper. Arthur Dangum. Okay. Christine. Hi. Yes. Okay. I'm Christine Nagam. Is he gonna speak as well? I'm sorry. Is he going to speak as well? No, he's not here. Thank you. Yeah. And your time can start now. Um, yeah. Members of the board, thank you for your service to our county and for your patience with so many impassioned voices tonight. The policy now being debated has serious implications for our children and precedent setting implications both beyond this school district and beyond public education in general. The one thing we all agree on is that there is much at stake and many understandable emotions have been aroused. A few moments ago, a very impassioned and wellspoken young man stood up here and denounced the religious sentiments of many here tonight

304um and said that he is nothing more than a to those coming from a religious perspective. I don't know if he's still here, but I I want to begin by thanking him for his courage in coming here to speak his mind before what he perceived as a hostile crowd. And I want to tell him that um those of us who call ourselves Christian see him as we see everyone as a person of dignity, infinitely loved by an all good God and created for a happiness beyond all comprehension. And anyone who says anything else is not a Christian. But but the point that I want to make about this policy is that it is not only Christians here today who have spiritual beliefs. The belief that you are a man trapped in a woman's body or

305a woman trapped in a man's body is a philosophical or spiritual belief. It cannot be anything else. All that science tells us is that gender is based on the chromosomes assigned at fertilization. And as John's Hopkins researchers recently reminded us, there is not a shred of scientific evidence that there is any such thing as a man in a woman's body or a woman in a man's. If you believe that you are something other than what science says you are, this absolutely presupposes an immaterial reality that precends from the merely physical. Please do not enact a policy which tells my children that they must adopt and comply with the philosophical or spiritual beliefs of another person to the point of undressing in the presence of a member of the opposite biological sex. I am here to

306ask you to please legislate based on science, not on the personal beliefs of a few. Please vote no on policy 060. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Our next speaker is Marvin Zaldavar. Marvin Marvin and then Dana Zaldavar. Pam Allar. Pam, are you here? Okay, moving on to those who signed up at the door. I know we have a few it appears we have a few people who did both and so obviously you only get one one crack at the microphone during a meeting. Um so we'll if if I call you if I missed some of them have been pointed out to me so we'll try to make sure we don't duplicate here. So you can come on up. These next speakers uh and again the handwritten one's even worse on me sometimes.

307So apologize for the mispronunciations here. Pat Mooney, uh, Telma Zambbrania Zambbrana, Dustin Atkinson, Barry Nef, Diana Pasco, Monica Blank, is it Micola Castenzo, Ryan Door, Xavier Torres, Daniel Platt, Karen Platt, Gerald Marie Anthony, John Ostrich and Rich Bulmer. That would be the the first page of the walkups uh registrations or signups, excuse me, here. And so, first speaker would be Pat Mooney. Pat, thank you for your patience. Although I don't know why you deserve that. I deserve a right to speak. Your job as a government entity is to give me time to speak and to protect the citizens of this county. It's been pointed out by Delegate Marshall and others that you violated law and procedure in trying to rush this to a vote. Mr. Sawyers. I don't believe a teacher would be fired for

308empathizing with a student. I don't believe that we should be discussing this and trying to postpone a vote. We shouldn't be voting on it. If you don't change the law, nobody's discriminated against. I use male bathrooms. My daughters use female bathrooms. Others with similar biological parts as me use the male bathroom. Nobody gets hurt. I don't have to declare that what's what is seen by me in the mirror doesn't exist. I noticed the doors on every school building in this county have a handgun with a circle and a bar around through it because there might be a bad guy with a gun. We have police officers in the room that are armed to keep us safe. I appreciate their presence. I don't feel a threat. Maybe you do and that's why they have to be

309here. 14 years ago next month, the Washington DC metropolitan area was held in the grips of a sniper. Everybody was in fear. After school activities were cancelled. Sporting events on weekends were cancelled. People were paying other people to fill their car with gas. Why? 10 people out of millions were killed. 10 people too many. But every single person living in this area felt that they were a potential victim. I suggest nobody on this board feels like they're a potential victim to the stupidity of this law. Vote no. Our next speaker is Telma Zambbrana. Telma, it's sorry, there there was a change there was a change in name for the spot. So, it's listed as Randy and then you're speaking on behalf of Randy. Is that correct? Randy Dominic. Yes. So, I'm sorry I they changed

310my sheet board, not everyone else's. I apologize. That's why the rest of you are looking at me like I'm crazy more so than normal. Telma Telma Zambbrana is is the is speaking on behalf of of Randy. He had to leave. We are here because of the motivations, political and otherwise, of one person, Ryan Sawers. This motion isn't to protect kids with gender identity issues from discrimination. These kids aren't being denied access to school or an education. There's an agenda here. Look, every kid is different. too tall or short, too skinny or fat, pimples, too slow, religion, culture, etc. Kids will point out those differences to other kids to tease or be mean. That isn't going to change. When it becomes oppressive or causes legitimate harm, we intervene with anti-bullying policies and other protective measures. Let

311the principles at our respective schools handle these issues as the school level as they have been doing for years with sensitivity and compassion for those with gender identity issues. Newman's third law of motion states for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In physics that may be true but not in this case. If you put these wordings into effect, there will be a very unequal reaction on the majority of the 88,000 other students that don't have identity issues when they walk into their bathroom or locker room. What do you think will happen when a gender confused young man walks into the young woman's bathroom or locker room? or worse, the knucklehead who enters a young woman's locker room under the guise of gender confused as a joke or worse for sexual gratification. Ryan

312Sawyers says, "This is not a bathroom or locker room issue for me, but a fairness issue." Wow. Well, as a parent of a 17-year-old high school junior, this is a protective issue. Protection. You, the school board, all of you, protect our daughters and vote no. Thank you. Our next speaker is Dustin Atkinson. Dustin. Thank you. Uh good evening. Uh Dr. Waltz, um Mr. Chairman, members of school board, it's late. I appreciate your time allowing us all to speak. It's it's the process is a democratic process. I appreciate it. Uh I'd like to specially thank Miss Satite and Mr. Deutsch for also replying to my email. Uh, I've been in the county 19 years. Um, and to be honest with you, I think Prince William County is great. Um, I've encouraged friends to move here. Um,

313we love it. I've moved three times. I could have moved to Lowden or Faul here or but we stay in the county. So, I I'm here because I I love the county. Um, I'm a father of six kids. Um, so mainly, you know, the fact that we're here and we're going to get three hours of sleep and then slug to work tomorrow. um is is not the issue. You all are here late. I appreciate it. It's on behalf of my children. Uh my wife's also teacher in the county and a coach of of of girls as well. Um my kids are um they're all in school prek to to sophomore and high school. Um so it's it's it's the love of my daughters, my daughter's daughters, and my daughter's daughters. Um, excuse me. Then I'm

314here to speak. Um, I'm a very simple man. Uh, I believe I'm called to a few uh key things. I have to be the best husband I can. I have to be the best father I am. I need your help. I cannot be the best father that I can without your help. I need you all to help protect my daughters and my children. So, I ask you very simply to please vote now. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Barry Nef. Barry, I'd like you to thank the opportunity to speak tonight. I raised today for the protection of my five children. I have four daughters and one son, all at Prince William Public County School. I'd like to read you chapter 8 of the crimes involving moral and decency 18-2 or 18.2-387 2-387 Indecent

315exposure. Every person who is intentionally makes an obscene display or keyword or exposes exposure of his person or the private parts thereof in any public place or in place where others are present or procedures another to expose himself shall be guilty of a class one misdemeanor. No person shall be deemed in violation for this section for breastfeeding a child in a public place. The penalties for intentionally exposing your private parts can count as a misdemeanor, offense carrying up to 12 months in jail, and a fine of $2,500. Mandatory registration in Virginia sex offenders lists. Enhanced penalties. Intentionally exposing your private parts to a child under age 15 or proposition of that child to expose his or her private parts is considered a felony and can lead to fines as well as up to 10 years

316in prison. I asked one of the officers here, "What would happen if I followed your policy that you're about to enact and I go into sport and health tomorrow, go into the ladies dressing room, strip down completely naked, and go take a shower? not make any sexual suggestions, not make any sexual movements. If a police, if a woman decides that that is offensive to them, they will call the police, I will be arrested, and according to this stature, I will have to register as a sex offender. How is it that if this law passes that those women at sport and health deserve that protection, but my 14-year-old child who at school can be exposed by an 18-year-old boy in that locker room. To me, that is very unfair. In 1967, they the movie industry came

317out with a rating system. Why did they come out with that rating system? To protect our children. They label a movie that is rated R that you can only be 17 or older to attend that. Why? Because there is nudity in that. There is violence in that. In fact, there is a stature 18.2-386. It shall be unlawful in any person to exhibit any trailer for a preview of a motion picture which has a rating that is not equal to that level that they are at right now. So, if the state deems it unnecessary or or unlawful for someone just to show a preview of a movie, how are you justifying the fact that my daughter is now going to be exposed to men genitalia? It makes no sense to me. I ask that you vote

318no. Thank you. The next speaker is Diana Pasco. Diana Pasco. Diana, Monica Blank, Monica, and this is the one Michaela Castenzo. Sorry, the handwriting gets me if I mispronounced it. Please correct me. Thank you. That's all right. Hi, my name is Michaela. I'm 50 15 years old. This meeting here is about equality and rights. We should all be equal. Blacks rights should be respected. Transgenders rights should be respected and women's rights should be respected. We don't want transgenders to feel hatred hated or feared. Actually, none of us do. Whatever they believe, they have rights and dignity as a person. We have great respect for their feelings and for everyone's feelings. As a school, the most important aspects are learning and safety. Everyone, no matter who should have education. This is the very concept of a

319public school. And everyone, no matter who should be safe. This is why public schools accommodate the children with allergies, mental disabilities, physical disabilities, those behind and those who are gifted and many others. In dangerous situations, it has been made obvious that safety is more important than education. No teacher would continue teaching while a fire alarm went off, a child went into anaphilaxis, someone had a seizure, or the school building was under attack. Safety, as shown in these cases, is the highest priority of a school facility, even above education. The matter being discussed here is no trivial matter. We are discussing something which affects the most important aspect of a school. Although this meeting was not called to discuss locker rooms, bathrooms, or dressing rooms. If poly if policy 060 is passed, it won't take long

320before these are being pushed through. Pushing these through could be very dangerous. If transgenders are allowed in bathrooms, locker rooms, and dresser rooms, it would be extraordinarily easy for a male to say that they are transgender and come into a woman's bathroom, locker room, or dresser room dressing room either to simply watch, to molest, or assault a woman. It leads to mistrust and fear. I do not want for me or any other woman to ever have to feel this doubt, insecurity, mistrust, anxiety, or fear. We may not appear as if we worry about being assaulted all the time, but it is always on our mind. We need to stay safe. Safety is the highest priority of a school. And as a school, I'm hoping you will take no risks on the safety of women. Please

321protect me, my friends, and all girls. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Ryan Door. Ryan. And as an extra note, I wanted to compliment those parents, especially those moms who have stood up here and talked tonight who are extremely worried about their children. It had never even occurred to me that one day I might be the mother of a child going through this very situation. I applaud you for coming up here and talking about it. Thank you. Thank you. Ryan. Good evening. Um, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this evening. My name is Ryan Duray and I'm a citizen of the unrepresented district of Brentsville. The clerk has my information on file. I'd like to start by saying that holding this vote without honoring the wishes of Gil Trenum to

322appoint a suitable replacement shows disregard for the citizens of Brentville district and all members of the military that have been deployed. I find this very disappointing. As pointed out by so many eloquent speakers earlier this evening, the proposed changes in the manner in which they are being brought to a vote are reckless. I don't have much to add to the insight of these speakers, but I do want to state that I strongly oppose the proposed changes to policy 060 on many grounds, including common sense, common decency, and the protection and privacy of our children. I would like to add something that two girls said earlier this evening and actually the young lady that just spoke before me um regarding the steps that Prince William County takes to accommodate children with special needs such as peanut

323allergies and learning disabilities. I have a child with intellectual disabilities in Prince William County schools and up to this point I have been very happy and quite thankful for the stellar accommodations that Prince William County Schools have made for my child. However, these proposed changes gravely concern me for her well-being and safety. Although much of her day involves accommodations for core subjects such as math and spelling, her day does involve integrated activities including art, music, physical education, and yes, using the bathroom and She will be absolutely mortified if she sees a biological male in the bathroom or locker room with her. How will I explain this to her? What if she refuses to use the bathroom at school based on this one experience that she may have in the future? Moreover, how will Prince William

324County Schools ensure her safety from boys or men that choose to use this policy to carry out nefarious acts? This is particularly true in an age when someone's privacy can be seriously violated with a smartphone, whether the intent was lewd or simply to be cruel to someone with intellectual disabilities. I ask you, since females will be most adversely affected by this policy, how is making this proposed change not part of the so-called war on women that we so frequently hear about in political discourse? I suggest to you that the war we're discussing tonight is being waged on girls that are too young to vote. And for the girls living in Brentsville district, their parents apparently have no say either. Members on the board, I urge you to vote no to amendment to policy 060. Listen

325to the hundreds of voices in this room opposing this change. Listen to the citizens of this county that don't want these changes. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Our next speaker is Xavier Torres. Mr. Chairman, board members, my name is Xavier Torres. The board has my address on record. Mr. Chairman, you have chosen to depart that airport without a clearance. You're climbing as quickly as you can. Some of the board members are with you, but you're looking out the window and you're navigating visually. You can see where you're going, or so it feels as if you can see where you're going. But as you are blazing a trail, only one logical explanation makes sense. Mr. the chairman look me in the eye and tell me that political expediency is not on the radar. Therefore,

326on a side note, in government, there's something called rulemaking. Rulem involves a process called costbenefit analysis. Cost is usually measured by the loss of human life. The benefit would be what did it take for rulemaking to save lives and is it worth the cost for rules to change? And so you go through this process called risk analysis. What was your risk analysis in this whole thing? I've yet to hear anybody behind me talk about anything that was substantial. As you look ahead, you're still flying visually, but there's clouds up ahead. You're about to enter the clouds. When you do your cost benefit, you want something concrete with which to make forth your recommendations. It's called quantitative data. It's real data that's provable. When you don't have that, you have qualitative subjective data, something that you

327can suppose might happen or feelings. You enter the clouds and now you don't see. What do you do? You look down and what are you looking at? You're looking at your instrument panel. Why? Because you don't know where you're going. And what do the instruments tell you? Well, you don't know because you have no quantitative data. You haven't considered unintended consequences. That's how you navigate when those arise from your decisions you make. Without that quantitative data, what are you using? Feelings. You don't even know that you are losing altitude, but you don't see that because you can't see out the window. And now you're off course. On a quick side note, Dr. Nathansson, one of the most fiercest crusaders of the proabortion movement, had a change of heart. He had a child that he lost.

328When he went back to work, he couldn't perform that abortion because life for him had changed. And I certainly hope that as you hit that mountain straight ahead that you don't see. Thank you. You don't have that wakeup call. Our next speaker is Daniel Platt. Daniel Platt. Our next speaker. Daniel. Karen Platt. Karen. Is it Gerard and Anthony? Sorry, handwriting gets me every time. I apologize. It's okay. Thank you, Mr. Shores. Um, Gerard Marie Anthony. I've grown up in Prince William County for most of my life. I've also, uh, spent eight great years teaching in this county at a school in Dumpries. And I come here today not in the name of hatred nor discrimination but of concern, love and anti-bullying. We're not here promoting hatred of transgendered students. We see them equal in dignity

329and worthy of love. So for all those who were bullied, I want to say I'm truly sorry for all that they've gone through. But we must however uphold the fact that there are biological differences between boys and girls. There are reasons why there are ur there are not urinals in the women's bathroom. We need to respect those scientific biological differences. So if by saying that I as someone who simply wants to acknowledge scientific differences is being discriminatory, we're also saying that recognizing science is a form of discrimination. Are you willing to make that public statement? I'm not. We're also doing this as a matter of respect. We should not have to choose between the transgendered people are the non-transgendered people. Let's respect them both. Isn't that true equal protection? Also, if we're looking at respect,

330is it respectful to the young women, all the young students that spoke here tonight to make them potentially think that they may have to go in scared or uncomfortable every time they go to the bathroom or even try to make new friends as they've pointed out tonight. Is it respectful to the transgendered person to make it awkward for them in the locker room because people of the opposite sex do not want to get undressed? Is it respectful to define a person simply by their sexuality or forced identity? And as for the bullying aspect, if a form of bullying is forcing people to do things that go against their will, when amending this policy to make people live in a way that goes against their will be a form of legalized bullying. In conclusion, I ask

331you to take the way of love and respect, the way of anti-discrimination, anti-bullying, and even science. I ask you to say no to amending policy 060. Thank you and God bless. Thank you. Our next speaker is John Ostrich. John Thank you, Dr. Walls, Mr. Chairman, u board members, and particularly Mr. Deutsch, who's my uh my member and fellow citizens. Um wanted to make just a few comments tonight. And the first one was made already by your first speaker. I'll just reiterate that. uh delegate Bob Marshall, the school board does not have the authority under Virginia law to add protected classes or status. It has to be done by the the general assembly and that has not been done and that's in in Dylan's rule which was brought up by another speaker. That would be wrong

332to try to do that. Um, you know, people have already talked about the bathroom, the locker rooms, putting our our girls allowing boys in in in those situations. That would be wrong. But it's not just about bathrooms and locker rooms and showers and all that, uh, or about protected classes. It really is about a political agenda that's being pushed here, which is small faction political interest group. And, um, this was actually discussed, some few people brought up the constitution. I studied constitutional law and studied the constitutional convention. Our great Virginia, fourth president of United States, James Madison wrote that constitution and wrote one of the most incredible political documents of all time. You should read it. Federalist paper number 10. Federalist paper number 10. He warns about this issue. What was it? What did it

333address? the question of how to guard against factions or groups of citizens with interest contrary to the rights of others or the interest of the whole community. And this is a political agenda that's being pushed here. It's not the interest of the majority. What James Madison went on to say is that you should vote for the Constitution to prevent the tyranny of the minority. government was by the majority and prevent the tyranny of the minority. And make no mistake about it, the LGBT agenda is a political agenda. It's a small faction. And he wrote all about this 230 years ago and said, "We can't let factions rule us." Okay? The government needs to worry about the people. All of the people. as it's already been mentioned, you know, there's problems with sports teams. Can should

334boys be on a girl sports team? Should a boy be in the Girl Scouts? And I'll also mention just a couple other things. Um I noticed on the agenda that the there's going to be a temporary Brentville district appointment after this vote. Why after the vote? That just that seriously. And out of 88,000 students, there's about 88 transgender students if we look at the percentage.1%. So 88 students, we make accommodation for them and uh you know make the other 88,000 students uncomfortable. I urge you to vote no on changing policy 60. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Rich uh Bulmer and then I'm going to call up the the next uh next page of speakers here. Um we have Ariana Barber. Uh you guys can come to the front please. Ariana Barber, Andrew

335Perllock, uh Juliana Rodriguez, Pamela Patrick Tui, Fucci has already spoken. Pamela Medina, Michael Frasier, um is it Jose, I can't read the last name, I'm sorry. Jose from Georgia Court in Manasses. Uh, Mary Healey, Cecilia Martin, Iris Chavez, Cassidy Ketchum, Pedro Lopez, Laura Yon, Carmen Bryson, John Reed, Jerry struggling, Jerry again, having trouble here from Just Farms in in Noville. Mike Hadre, you've already spoken. And then Roseanne Bamer, Bamemer, you guys can come on up. Okay. So, Rich Rich Bulmer, are you here? Okay. Ariana Barber. Good evening board members and Mr. Chairman. I am Ariana Barber. I am 14 years old and I am saying this um speech in place of Maria Zambrana. I speak on behalf of the entire community seated behind me in red and all those could who could not make it

336today but wanted to come. The majority of our nation have kept the gender they have were they have were each assigned at birth. However, this same majority has slowly become suppressed by the LGBT community on the grounds that we are anti- love and homophobic. Why are we all eager to accept and afraid to offend? I have compassion for men, women, and children who are transgender, gay, lesbian, and all the others. However, I will not let the compassion blind my judgment to to do the right thing. Board members voting today to pass, I I hope you that you voting to pass this amendment would be wrong and history will not look upon it favorably. Passing the amendment of policy 060 would be devastating not only for our community but also for our nation. We do not

337live in the land of the f of the free to be silenced by a minority. Thank you for listening and please vote no. Thank you. Our next speaker is Andrew Perllock. Andrew Juliana Rodriguez. Juliana Pamela Medina. Pamela, Michael Frasier, and then Jose on again can't read your last name, Jose. I apologize. Thank you. My name is uh Jose Cosio, but tonight I feel feminine, so you can call me Mary. This is a teachable moment especially for you young people. You need to vote for people that have your own values because this is what's happening because we voted for somebody that doesn't have our values. [Applause] This is not a well-meaning policy like somebody said. It's a misguided political bullying coming all the way from the White House. Our constitution is very clear. It instruct instructs

338the government that it must govern with the consent of the people. This government clearly is doing the opposite. Remember when we were young, we wanted to have long hair. And I think even Mr. Sawyers has some long hair sometime. It's hard to believe, but I probably did. Well, but the point is that he doesn't have now and he changed his mind. So that was just an exploring era era of of his uh life. That's what happens with many many children. They are exploring stuff and we don't have to change everything because of that. Let me tell you how discriminatory this misguided agenda is. If you have a child with autism or with AD and D or or ADHD, you need a medical opinion for the school to recognize this condition. But if somebody feels that

339he is married today, the school has to accept that and accommodate that. How crazy is that? Our constitution is a document that restrains government. People that try to do thuggish behavior in government. And that's why thugs don't like the constitution. Thank you. And they do not live by the constitution. Thank you. Our next speaker, our next speaker is Mary Healey. Our next speaker is Mary Mary Healey. Mary Mary Healey. Mary Cecilia Martin. Mr. Chairman, the board and board members, first God is removed from schools to accommodate others different beliefs. Now you are considering to remove the rights of our children's or their privacy. of their innocence and purity by exposing them to things that they are not supposed to. Your responsibilities as board members are to look for the safety of our children to protect

340our children from dangerous situations dangerous to the mental, emotional and physical health. to play not to place them in situations where they're going to feel violated in any way or form. People's who chose to be transgenders or otherwise many times is their own choice of who they want to be stand for the rights of our children. I myself am minority. I'm Spanish. I am proud to be in the United States and for what offers. But please, when you make your decision, I vote I would like you to vote to protect for our children the safety our children. Please vote no to policy 060. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Iris Chavez. Iris. Iris Chavez. Cassidy Ketchum is our next speaker. Cassidy. Hi, my name is Cassidy and my address is on file with

341the clerk. Um, I would like to start by saying this policy is simply about making sure that our teachers and staff are able to keep their jobs despite their sexual orientation or gender identity, not about bathrooms or locker rooms. Um, those people born sick, keep them out of our bathrooms. Keep those people out of our locker rooms are a few of the things I've heard tonight from some of the speakers about our students and teachers. That is the same bigotry that was said about African-American students in the 1960s. There is a great quote by Martin Luther King from a letter he wrote in Birmingham jail. It says, "We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford

342to live with the narrow provin provincial outside aigator idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider. School board members, you have a choice to make concerning social justice. You must be the leaders among those who are afraid of change and equality. You must vote yes in this non-discrimination policy. Yes, for those who are afraid to come here tonight and speak for fear of losing their jobs tomorrow morning. Yes, for the children who are growing and discovering who they are. Yes, for the classmates who have a right to learn in an open and accepting environment. Do not make children or their peers fear their difference. Give the LGBT community a voice. Choose the right side of history and vote yes on policy 060. Thank you. Our next speaker is Pedro

343Lopez. Pedro Laura Yon. Laura Carmen Bryson. Carmen John Reed. Well, good morning. Now, my name is Bishop John Reid. I'm the senior pastor of Victor Family Outreach Ministries in Woodbridge, Virginia. And I want to thank you for the opportunity uh to address you all on this very pertinent matter of concern. I'm here to voice my concern regarding uh policy 060. I feel this vote is a government effort attempting to interfere with the mental health of our children. The transgender programming of children is nothing less than child abuse and mental illness run a muck. We were created male and female by holy God who we have chosen to disregard in our plight for intelligence. This is a complete contradiction to the known science of biology and physical reality. The Bible says in the book of Genesis,

344which is recognized by Jews, Muslims and Christians, it says God created humankind in his image. In the likeness of God he created him male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said unto them, "Be fruitful and multiply." As a civil rights pioneer from the 1960s, comparisons of the plight of such individuals is insulting to me. This is not a civil rights issue. this is not a civil rights issue. So in essence, we've become emboldened to self-identify. Now, unfortunately, I didn't have that option in 1965. I didn't have that option in 1969 when I was arrested. Moreover, we've devolved. We're not evolving. We've devolved to a level of disregarding our biological makeup for a physological and psychological ideology. As we hear the voices cry to be tolerant within the same breath, we

345have threats to remove government funding from schools who fail to comply with this polit politically correct agenda. I can ask who really is intolerant here. My studies I have learned that transgenderism is merely an umbrella term that covers a wide range of experiences. Each person's story is unique and their own journey is personal. Virtually all people have a biological sex identifiable at birth and immutable throughout life which makes them either male or female. The transgender movement represents a denial of this physical reality. allowing allowing a change to the non-discriminatory laws regarding transgender individuals in the school setting would confuse children. Thank you, sir. Amen. Our next speaker is Our next speaker is Jerry. I'm sorry, Jerry. I can't read your last name. Jerry. Sorry, sir. Hello, my name is Jerry Dalmple. I'm only 13 years

346old and gone through seventh grade. And if I can see all the flaws in this policy, then I don't know how any of you can vote yes for it. Our next speaker is Roseanne Bmer. Roseanne. Roseanne. All right, and we're on to our final page of uh of walkups here. Uh late late signups, and it's about six of them, I believe. Diego Koreas, Brent Freeze, Philip Kirstid, Jose CIO, Joe Val, and Anna Tjo. If you guys could come up to the front, please. Our first speaker there is Diego Kareas. Diego, are you here? Brent FZ is our next speaker. Mr. freeze. I was going to start with good evening, but I'll say good morning, Mr. Chairman, board, and Dr. Waltz. My name is Brent Freeze, and my information is on file with the clerk. As

347some of you know, in February of this year, my life and the life of everyone that knew my daughter, Pton Rose Freeze, has forever been changed by bullying. Her loss and suicide due to bullying, as personal, as personally devastating as it is, and as hard as it it is for me to discuss, must be a catalyst for change. That change is through our actions and our words. I stated the first time that I spoke to the board less than a month after losing Payton that we are all unique. We are all special. Bullying in any and all forms is not acceptable no matter who the person is and regardless of any perceived differences. All students are entitled and have the right to feel safe in our schools and our communities. Absolutely no person should ever

348have to face being bullied, being discriminated against for any reason, or to be made to feel less of a person. No parent should ever have to be in the situation that I find myself in every day for the remainder of my life, especially when it is preventable. The last time that I had an opportunity to address the board, Pton's project, Freeze Bowling for Payton, announced that that we are establishing a scholarship fund for the current 12 high schools in Prince William County and the six high schools in Rockingham County. I am pleased to to announce that as of today, we have successfully reached our initial goal of raising $18,000. This would not have been possible without the heartfelt donations of individuals and businesses. The scholarship fund will provide a minimum of one $1,000 scholarship at

349each of these high schools for a senior that has either faced bullying during the time in their school and has persevered through it or to a senior who has fought for those who've been bullied and to make a difference in their school. We are also having an anti-bullying walk on October 29th at the Harris Pavilion in Manasses. our hopes that this scholarship fund and this walk will be another catalyst for change. Thank you for your thank you for your time and we look forward to working with Prince William County and preventing all forms of bullying throughout our schools and our communities. Thank you very much. our next speaker is Philip Kirstston. Phillip Jose Cosio. Jose Vials, sorry. Appreciate it. Yeah. Yes, sir. Good morning. My name is Joe Vials and I'm a father of eight,

350five daughters. And I'll be honest with you, I had no thought of any of you prior to two weeks ago. Um, I am a son of a the president of the school board back home in Indiana. Um, but this is unimaginable to me. Um, the reason that I am here is for love of my children. Bottom line. Now, I don't know the backgrounds of each of you. I've never looked into what you've uh how you voted, what your thoughts are, um where you've come from. I'm hoping that you have an open mind and that this wasn't just a show. Um, I appreciate you giving us the opportunity. And as someone said before, I mean, really, it's it's the job of this board to represent the people. And we're very fortunate to live in a country

351that we live in where we can come and let our voices be heard. And though I thank you, it's your job to represent and to listen to our voices. I'm a military member, recently retired. I too, it's unconscionable that you guys are holding a vote or thinking about holding a vote without your lost member just because he's serving our country. I am appalled. I know many who have died serving this country. and you guys dishonor them by taking a vote in his absence. So, I don't know whose idea it was, but hopefully you don't go along with it. Honor your colleague. Honor those military members. You live in a very pro-millitary area with a lot of military. Honor us. And I mean I I didn't do much. I served. There are many more that gave

352a lot more than I ever did. Honor them. And please vote no. Once again, like I said, I'm here for the love of my daughters and I will walk into a bathroom with them if that's what it takes to protect them. And I think that I've got that right. Thank you. Thank you. And the we had one one last minute sign up here and it's Anna Tjo. Anna, are you still here? Debbie gave it to me late right here. I always feel a lot shorty behind pullpit or whatever you call these things. Okay, my name is Anna. I am an unrepresented student in the Brentsville district. This is my little sister, Lydia. You've heard the many voices of concerned parents and citizens regarding the newly proposed restroom locker room policy. You've heard the voice of

353those who give legal warning that you not overstep the boundaries of your authority. However, I am here to speak for those who will not have a voice. I'm here to speak for the generations of young ladies like myself and girls like Lydia whose dignity and safety are on the line tonight. I have six articles here of incidents of biological males praying on and terrorizing women and girls while claiming benefits of being transgender in places where non-discrimination policies like this were implemented. One is of a man who entered a female locker room and began to undress while girls such as leading myself were ch changing into swimsuits for practice. There are several articles of biological males claiming to be transgender either filming women in the bathrooms or in changing rooms and another about a biological male

354who directly assaulted various women while claiming to be transgender and being allowed to access their private space. But of the most interest is a case where a transgender male student was sexually harassing girls in a Colorado high school. The girls complaints were silenced because quote hate crimes could be charged against students just for talking about this. The girls were warned that the law was on the boy side. What the school officials have told the girls is that in order to maintain privacy, they can use a single restroom at the office, which is not always available and is some distance from a lot of the classes. End quote. I ask you, is that where you want this county to go? Is that where you want our county to go? You've seen other school boards, counties, and

355businesses that come to the pressure of non-discrimination policies like this. And these articles are just a sampling of the result of their decisions. But you've also witnessed true leaders who have stood firm in protecting true freedoms such as the freedom of privacy, safety, and speech. If the use of the bathroom or changing room was prohibited to transgender people, then yes, that would be discrimination. However, we've not had any complaints or problems because of this in the Prince William County for the past 10 years. There's an old saying that says, "If something ain't break ain't broke, don't fix it." Instead of protecting against discrimination, this policy would give transgender special treatment to be allowed to use the bathroom, locker room, facility of the other biological sex at the cost of the privacy, comfort, and safety of

356many. So, my father can't come into the women's restroom, but another man claiming to be transgender can. That is discrimination. I'll end with a quote. This is not very complicated. No one should be discriminated against, harassed, or bullied. At the same time, no man should be allowed to use the ladies room and no woman should be allowed to use the men's room. Thank you. Thank you. All right. It's my understanding now that that closes citizens times. My understanding with the title one presentation we have with that that'll be moved to the to the October 5th meeting. Is that correct? Okay. And then with that we're moving on to item 150 1502 revision of policy 060 the non-discrimination commitment to equity. Um I will make a motion. I'm sorry. It's it's my understanding Dr. Waltz is

357is the title one presentation did we is that one of the ones we took off there was an Yes. Yes. I was Well, yeah. Correct. Okay. Um, sorry that that's what I was doing. Just did it a little fast. Mr. Deutsch. Thank you. With unanimous consent and I believe that the the presentation was that Mickey that was that was going to do that. Mr. Mgru, not that I'm sorry. I'm getting my getting my confused. Okay. with unanimous consent with the title one presentation. Okay. Sorry. Okay. Miss, we have an objection to to not to hearing to not hearing the title one presentation. Is it here able to be presented? It is not able to be presented. My computer just froze there. Hold on one second, please. There we go. All right. Now, we're moving on

358to revision of policy 060, the non-discrimination and commitment to equity. Uh, the second reading. I will u make a motion that the Prince William, excuse me, put my name in here. That the Prince William County School Board adopt the changes to the non-discrimination policy 060 by adding sexual orientation and gender identity. In doing so, the Prince William County School Board gives guidance to the superintendent that he was do not change the current regulations and practices regarding bathroom and locker room use. The Prince William County School Board may specifically address this at a later date once it as a body is satisfied with the guidance and/or rulings provided by the courts or as required by law. We request that the superintendent provide the school board with a presentation of the new regulations that implement this policy

359change by the last regularly scheduled board meeting of the 201620 2017 academic year. Is there a second Miss Williams? I second. Thank you. And then we're on to discussion. It's my motion so I will start. Um and this is discussion just as a reminder as the chairman here. hour reminder that we we listen to um the citizens speak obviously during citizens time and this is our time to speak. So just as we don't interrupt speakers it's also it works the other way as well. Um um I if if someone speaks I'm going to have them removed from the room. It's it's our turn now at this point. This is how it's always worked and way before I was here. So it's now the board's turn to discuss this matter. Um there's uh a lot of

360obviously a lot of political uh unrest about all of this and it has it has been I guess successfully in some eyes been turned into a bathroom issue, a locker room issue and what I find what I find to be relatively interesting about all of that is many many of the concerns um that we've listened to for the last you know nearly 6 hours um many of the concerns are are already being addressed and happening um in concerns about the implementation of this policy. For example, traveling for sports teams. Um those types of discussions already happen. Um if if two girls are attracted to each other and on the same team, the coaches already have to deal with that and already have to handle that in some way. It's already going on from that perspective.

361um even if even I like I said it's not it's not a bathroom issue but many of the concerns that that are arise that arise about that have already kind of been handled in some ways but aren't always completely satisfactory there are there are many things to consider one is uh which delegate Marshall brought up at the very beginning and I appreciate him doing that and I've heard him say that before But obviously the system of checks and balances does not allow the general assembly to also interpret its own laws. That's what the attorney general is elected for. The attorney general's office in the system of checks and balances corrects and interprets laws before the courts ultimately set precedent. So ultimately again ultimately um the attorney general has ruled the courts obviously do not necessarily

362care what the attorney general says and the courts can do uh what they see fit and interpret in their own ways. As a father of two, a son in middle school, and a third grade daughter, I don't think for any second, regardless if you're on my side of this or not, that anybody doesn't have the best interest of of children in mind. We can certainly disagree on many of those things. In fact, there's there was a speaker here today that was drinking wine with my wife on my in my kitchen table who disagrees with me vehemently just two days ago, and that there'll still be our friends after this. The reality is is that we do have 3,300 LGBT students roughly statistically speaking and employees in our school system. This is not a small group

363of people. I received notification just today that an employee of our school system was actually changing their mind to speak because they were worried if this didn't pass, they didn't know what the ramifications would be tomorrow with their employer. That is even more justification why I think this type of change is needed. Ultimately, the superintendent and his staff are hired to write regulations based on broader schoolboard policy. Policy is one of the major responsibilities for the school board to take on. I realized when I brought this forward and announced it over three months ago that it wouldn't be popular because additions to the non-discrimination policy never are. Non-discrimination policies by their nature have the majority against them because they protect a minority. I'm a heterosexual white male. But yet 72% of the current 72% of

364the current classes in our non-discrimination policy apply to me right now. They protect all of us. Maybe not all of us. The pregnancy one will never apply to me. But they either do automatically for our entire lives protect all of us or could if disability or other factors come into play. I tell you what today's conversation had for me is we need to have a serious conversation in this community about heterosexual boys if our concern seems to be them. because I have a sixth grade son and I've now going to make sure I refocus on his uh urges because apparently um we're we're not going to we're not going to protect some because others may take advantage of the law. Someone who is not truly transgender who goes in who goes into a bathroom where

365where things like this is done, it's still against the law. But this policy that I'm suggesting doesn't even touch that. It allows the current system that we have in place which is sightbased management which is school to school to school which does lead to inconsistencies for students especially when they switch schools. They go from middle school to high school. They don't know necessarily what the next school is going to allow them to do or not allow them to do. Broader pictures are the responsibility of the school board to make sure that we protect everyone. But nothing that we pass, and I've said this before about other issues, nothing that we pass impacts everyone the same way. Nothing. Budgets, school bus routes, if they change them, if the if the staff change them, nothing impacts people

366the exact same way all the time. For me, this is quite simple. Whether you think it exists or not, I can assure you that it does. Knocking on doors gets you conversations that you never thought you'd have running for office and then eventually being elected to office. People open their heart to you. They expect a lot from you and a lot of times they don't come to meetings like this because of those reasons that I mentioned earlier because of fear because they are a minority and they don't want to be shouted out of a room even if it's not going to happen. That's how they feel and that's a reality. The matter of the fact is LGBT members of our society are not protected by current policy when it comes to hiring and firing practices

367officially as established by the school board. And if that isn't impacting current employees and their mindset towards employment, which it is, but even if it isn't, even if you give the argument that it's not happening, which it is, it does impact our ability to be more presentable to other jurisdictions where we're trying to get teachers from and newer students and newer college graduates who want to become teachers. Obviously, I am a rent a resident of the Brentsville district. that's been mentioned several times and I have a lot more so I have more conservative friends than friends that necessarily agree with my political views. It's always been my nature. I was in men's college athletics for 15 years. It's a very conservative world. But even many of my most conservative friends have said to me, can

368we just pass this and move on? This is something everybody is doing. Their employers are doing it. We're the largest employer in the county. 70ome percent of Fortune 500 500 companies already have sexual orientation in their policy and 60some percent have gender identity. This is something when we like to compare government to business and how a business would run. This is something that businesses are doing. So if you've made that expression before, if anyone here has said, well a business would have to do this. Well, this is what businesses are doing. And we are a business by law. The superintendent is the chief executive officer of the school system by law. And it is time past time. Even though someone said that I thought the county was backwoods. If you think I think Prince William

369County is backwoods, you've never been to Cumberland, Maryland, where I grew up, because that's a that's a different place. It's much more quiet. But we have to protect our most vulnerable students. I obviously will support this update to the policy. That's no secret. I think it's time that we do so. And I think it's time that we provided this this type of direction to the superintendent to say don't change what we're currently doing as far as the bathroom locker room policies are concerned because ultimately the courts and I agree with many who have talked about this the courts will provide us guidance on that and we may be forced to do different things whatever the case may be or we may not that I don't know but I do know in the short term that

370we can protect LGBT students and their educational experience and we can protect employees uh through employment whether being hiring uh firing or not hiring to begin with. So with that u I'll open the floor to anyone else. Miss Rollston. Thank you. I've been giving this a lot of consideration and a lot of thought. At first I thought, "Oh, this is a no-brainer. I I'm I really got the answer for this. But you know, as you listen to people talk, sometimes they open up your eyes to another way of thinking. And so now you have to weigh it all. Well, it didn't quite go down that easy. So it was like swallowing a huge pill. It didn't just slide down. And so I listened to you tonight and I've been reading the emails and it's been

371very very interesting. You you're you're passionate which I like and and you're going to dig in. I'm not saying that we should not pass this at all. What I am going to tell you is that I think we should wait. Now don't clap for me. No, no, no. Don't clap for me. We should wait to see what the courts say. That way we don't disrupt kids twice. Okay. So, that would be where I stand. I believe everybody. I'm an African-American old lady and I personally believe that I think I have seen everything until tonight. And every day there's always something different if God gives you the the eyesight to see from. But be careful and don't be overly judgmental on us. We are doing the very best we can up here as board members. This

372was truly not the best topic for the second board meeting of the new school year, but you get what you get sometimes. So, at some point that's going to be an amendment, if the chairman doesn't mind, a friendly amendment uh to your motion that we can hold this back until such time uh as either the state of Virginia Supreme Court or the US Supreme Court makes their rule. So, I I want to ask one question of our attorney. Uh, we all know that October is when the US Supreme Court comes back into session. So, I'm going to ask her, have you seen anything on the docket yet? No, I don't even believe that. I'm sorry. I don't even believe that the other side has filed their opposition to petition for CERT. So, it's going to

373be probably not till the end of this school year before we hear from the V the United States Supreme Court. What about um what about here in Virginia, our state? I I couldn't predict that, but my my guess would be at least a, you know, a year, but they just they did pick up Fairfax, right? Yes. Okay. So, Mr. Rosson, I'm sorry. I just want to clear up from a procedural perspective, and I'm I'm sorry. Point of order here, I guess, is did you make a motion to I'm making a friendly motion. Well, we can't friendly amendments. We can't do friendly amendments. Um, they're not allowed by Robert Trolls of order. Are you Are you making a motion to postpone this vote? Is that what you're doing? Are you making a motion to postpone indefinitely

374or post postpone to a certain time? I'm going to say at least to the end of the school year. And that way hopefully either one of the courts will have made a decision so that we don't have to turn around and back up and redo what whatever it is we're going to do. Would you like to pick a date? I mean again ultimately we need to either have it postponed to a certain date or we need to postpone June. Um the sec the first or second meeting in June. Would you do that? Second meeting in June. Thank you. Well, yeah. Let me Mr. Chairman, I'll second. Thank you, Mr. Deutsch. I figured we'd get there. I just wanted to type it in first to make sure I got it exactly right. But let Mr. Do

375before I plug you in, I'm going to make sure I get it get the wording right before you would do that. And then I'll verify with you to uh Mr. Rollson, I have your motion currently. I'd like you obviously for your approval um to postpone this vote on the update to policy 060 until the second regularly scheduled board meeting in June 2017. Is that satisfactory? Yes. Mr. Deutsch, is that the motion that you seconded? Okay. Can into your mic, please. Just so Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Okay. Now, we have discussion. Um just just for the record, just so we're all on the same page here. Uh what we're discussing now, uh I'll read this one more time. We are discuss discussing um a motion to postpone to a certain date. Uh the motion to

376postpone is to postpone this vote on the update to policy 060 until the second regularly scheduled board meeting in June 2017. Discussion on this which you will lead with Miss Rston. Discussion on this is is strictly limited to to this amendment not to the merits of the original motion but to the merits of this motion. Um so we can talk about the the merits of postponement at this point but not the merits of policy of the update. Miss Rston, I think I'll just open it up and Mr. Dorch, is that what you're asking? No, you get to speak first because it's your motion. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And then then I get to recognize people. That's the cool part about my seat over here. I want it. Of course, it may help you guys. Um it's

377been quite a again it's been quite an interesting evening and last and two weeks ago was very interesting and to listen to everybody and read all your emails sometimes I think that your energy was just interesting because it was a lot of it and what you showed tonight was determination and grit but that didn't sway me. I was swayed long time ago when I first saw this and it was going to be on there because I believe that everybody has the right the the absolute right to be not be discriminated against. There's just no two ways about that. And we can talk about bathrooms and showers or swimming pools. I have three granddaughters. So, I understand from a family perspective. I understand. But we just have to be a little more careful in our jubilant

378way. This is going to be a difficult piece for the whole entire United States. If the Supreme Court picks this up, the their ruling will guide every school district. Every school district. So that's about all I have to say about this. Thank you, Miss Rollston. Anyone else? Mr. Wilk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Miss Rston. And uh this process uh in two weeks, uh going through this, I I want to highlight some things. As many of you know, I'm a former teacher. Uh 8th grade government was my subject. a lot of classes uh we did do debates in class because I wanted to instill uh collegiality uh discourse uh and just proper etiquette. And you know as a teacher the goal was to frame the issue to look at the existing record and data on

379file debate policy and specifics and discuss implementation. My concern is the way this was rolled out if this was a lesson plan I'd be fired as a teacher. it. With that being said, as a teacher, I have witnessed bullying as Miss Jesse. I'm sure we all have and have experienced it in our lives. Uh, you know, as a teacher, like I said, I've seen kids attacked for their sexuality, their race, uh, a bunch of different things. As a like I two weeks ago, I was talking to the chairman and something was posted on uh, social media. I woke up in the morning, my first day, uh, slugging, which was a whole new experience. Uh, and a student had tweeted, quote, "If another wins class president, I'm done with this building." And that to me opened

380back my eyes to the fact that, you know, this is something we deal with constantly, you know, and we have to get to the root of the problem here, you know, and tackle these issues. Uh and and so looking at this and in these two weeks and speaking with my constituents, that's what I've been using these two weeks to do. And I've gone to the people, the boots on the ground. I've talked to my principles. I've talked to guidance counselors, my teachers, and a large network of superintendents that I work with professionally. Last night, I even had the chance, maybe for tutors or not, to speak to a school psychiatrist who has worked in her years in the school system with many transgender students. A couple themes arose that I looked at when analyzing all

381this information, things that I've heard tonight. We've been dealing with this for years. These are private matters that are dealt with on an individual basis. Why are you dealing uh why are you dealing with these items when it's currently being litigated in the courts? To get another perspective, I talked obviously I had a lot of emails from students, which I appreciate having students email their schoolboard members. uh you know a good portion and many of my former students actually reached out to me. Uh in fact a group of 30 of my former Woodbridge Middle School students signed an email statement all should be noticed Latino declaring as young Democrats they were opposed to this reckless in implementation and policy. Common phrase Mr. Wil sorry to interrupt. We do have to stick to the merits of

382of delay. I will stick to the merits are why I believe in the pro why I'm supporting Miss Rston's motion. Okay. I just want to make sure make sure we're sticking to the merits of of whether or not to delay or not. Not not the giving me you my rationale for Yes. Yes. I appreciate that, sir. We cannot these are common quotes verbatim. We cannot make pawns out of these students. We cannot stigmatize them. Exploit them. Rush the process. Do not play politics before us. Mr. Wilk, you know, was it Dwey asked? did we do our homework? And I did do a little bit of homework. Um, you know, and I looked and and you know, Willie was just asking, well, where did you go to find how the 50 other largest school districts in

383this country are dealing with this issue? There is no database. I literally went to every school district website. I reached out to other school board clerks uh and tried to figure out how these policies and how they're being implemented across this country. What's very fascinating is it's all over the gamut. Uh, you know, you go from LA Unified, which all the way across the board, transgender, you know, everything can pretty much go, uh, all the way to, you know, Marietta public schools down in Georgia where they don't have the policy inclusion in their statement. They deal with students on an individual basis for bathroom, locker room. The point I'm trying to get, Ed, is the current amendment giving guidance to the superintendent to me, I could see being very perceived as nebulous. Where are we

384going with this when we have other examples all over the country kind of willy-nilly dealing with this? My thought as I was talking to Miss Jesse is this is almost like a policy where you write the regulations. You were saying it to me where almost the regulations have to precede the policy. So we have a firm outline. You know I looked at a case study. This just happened on 719. Those of you who are aware of Fort Worth, Texas, that's where Dallas is. Fort Worth ISD right before the summer implemented. one might say in a hasty manner a transgender policy. Major major uh uh retaliation from the community ultimately leading the board to have to come back to special session and try to develop a policy if you look at it online or you I

385should be able to get it how they've outlined and wrote very specific regulations of how they're going to handle this issue. Um, so again, you know, there's a lot to look at here. And when it comes to me, I'm against discrimination obviously, but to me it comes down to the policy and the process. My fear and what I've been looking at when I talk to constituents is a fast vote erodess the necessary trust any business or institution or government body needs. When we had the name changing thing, we talked about this and I admitted that although I have no regrets in what I did with changing and getting rid of Mills Godwin, I did openly express regrets on the process and the way it was handled. standing up here tonight seeing kind of where we're

386at again. I feel it would be an absolute hypocrisy to jump forward and implement and vote for this procedure when there is still so much we need to understand and know with this policy. So ultimately with this motion, Miss Rston, I believe our schools should be safe and exclus and and an inclusive space for all students regardless of their differences. However, in speaking with my constituents, I think we should all acknowledge that there is no widespread agreement on how best to make sure our schools are inclusive to transgender students. That's evident tonight. I think what is most needed is a community dialogue to come to an understanding and better understand the challenges and discrimination faced by these individuals. We need an opportunity more than two weeks to reach out to our community and have a

387safe space for all dialogue to learn about this issue. Some of our speakers alluded to this tonight saying we want to reach across the aisle. We want to work with the other side and try to make this happen so that again we are not recklessly just putting something forward where we don't understand the unintended consequences. I do want to make clear I am in favor favor of continuing to reach out to all members of our community. I met with pastors. I met with uh the priest father Thomas and I had a long discussion via phone on my deck uh to my wife's detriment. I've been on the phone a lot this week. Um, but I've been talking the pastors, the priests, the leaders in this community to really try to figure out how we can

388come together and solve this issue because it is not going away. As like you said, Miss Rston, this is not going away. And the direction I mean, very likely this could happen and this discussion, this debate will not be the constituents coming at us. It'll be with you guys figuring out with your federal government or your courts how you can, you know, protest. And so ultimately in the end, you know, this should be no means an end to our discussion. This is just the beginning. We have a lot of time now uh if this motion, which I do agree and support with you, Miss Rston, to really look into this issue uh and do what's best for all students in Prince William County. I yield my time. Thank you, Mr. Ro. Anyone else? Mr. Deutsch.

389Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think well we've learned a lot of things tonight. Um I think one of the things that we've learned is that as a school division we need to keep looking at what we do about bullying. Uh we need to keep um working to stop bullying. We also need to keep working to teach people to stand up to bullies. Um, and I think that's something that I think we've we've made improvements over the last number of months, the last few years on and doing. I know we've got a number of presentations even coming up this month on that front and I think we've got to continue working very aggressively on that front. Um, speaking very specifically to the motion to table, uh, I believe that what we have here as well as

390both the amended and the original motion are motions that only put the community in um, more confusion. Um, we had a a pol a policy change put forward with no clear specificity on what it was that we were trying to change to improve. If you change a policy, there's something you want done differently. Uh, some may insist that they're not um going to address certain topics, but we've heard nothing about what it is going to address um or change. Uh, last board meeting, I talked a lot about what makes good policy. We continued on this route and uh here we are. Um but when it comes to policy creation uh uh policy 131 speaks to how we as board members put forward policies. Uh, paragraph five or section 5 paragraph 2 sentence one reads, "Prince

391William County Schoolboard members shall be furnished notices of the forthcoming meetings with supporting documents and information as may be needed in considering agenda items. We had a policy put forward with zero information on what that implementation might look like um what the risks were, what the benefits were, what we were trying to fix, etc. Normally we have presentations from staff. We're able to talk to the different members of our school division about how things would be impacted. We had none of that. And for a policy of this magnitude, that is not the right way to do business. Um and so on that front, all you can do is look to the public record. So the public record, we have a quote from the chairman in May where he states, "I don't have a problem with

392any student or any employee using the bathroom of their choice. No conditions, no qualifications." So yes, that discussion on this policy began with a discussion on bathrooms and one that did not lead to many asurances for the community, shall we say. Um then we we continue to look to the public record and in the in the policy change it specifically uh the policy also changed the legal guidance uh under which we would implement this policy. One of the legal guidances was um guidance from the department of education. Page three and page four specifically refer to the hot button issues that were referred to here under restrooms. That legal guidance that we were supposed to follow when implementing this policy states, "A school may provide separate facilities on a basis of sex, but must allow transgender

393students access to such facilities consistent with their gender identity. Athletics. A school may not, however, adopt or adhere to requirements or rely on overly broad generalizations or stereotypes about the difference between transgender students and other students of the same sex. Single sex classes, which we actually have here in the school division. When offering such classes and activities, a school must allow transgender students participate uh consistent with their gender identity. Housing and overnight accommodations. This one's actually really good. But a school must allow transgender students to access housing consistent with their gender identity and may not require transgender students to stay in single occupancy accommodations or to disclose personal information when not required of other students. So nobody would even know who they're staying with. So on the one hand to offer a policy with that

394kind of legal guidance for how it's to be implemented and then on the other hand to tell the superintendent, oh but don't do those things in the in the legal policy is really speaking out of both sides of our mouth and with no clear direction for what it is that we want and no presentation from staff, no understanding of the implementmentation. This is fundamentally a reckless approach to policy. Um there are also uh numerous legal um consequences to us rushing forward on this. Um and a lot of implications we haven't thought out. And also we've had other people come forward wanting us to change about four other policies as well as education stuff. If we were to open this box, we don't really know where the end is. So, I think it's time we also

395on this agenda have items on title one education. We've got to work really hard to move those scores up. The school calendar, pretty important document. Uh bond funding, um presentations on other education things. We need to stop the politics and especially when it's done with reckless policies. Come on, Mr. We've got We've got to We've got to We've got to let the board members speak. We've got to let the board members speak. Sorry. and uh and we've got to get back to education because that's really what we're all about here on this school board and what we can keep working on and continue to work with our staff when we form policies to continue to improve things. Uh I hope um you know we very well may address have to address this in the future.

396I hope when we do we do it in a collaborative way with staff with the community in a way that really thinks through the implementmentation uh the implications and uh we can all work together as a community instead of uh pitting people against each other the community. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Deutsch. Anyone else? I'm sorry Miss Jesse. Good evening. Um, I've been in this system for 35, 40 years and been on this board for the past three years. Um, I find this to be one of the most difficult decisions that I've had to make. I've really wrestled with it and I I uh several people have called me and asked me what was my vote and and I receive emails saying tell me how you're going to vote and I haven't shared what I

397was going to do with anyone really and the reason being I had to really think through what was going on. Um, I I've heard a lot about discrimination. Um, most of you know that I've lived that life and I know what discrimination looks like and I know what it feels like. Um, there's a vast difference uh here. Um, so many people. All of you are here tonight. There's a huge group of people. You're wearing your colors. I love a good protest. I've been in them, lived them. But um sexual orientation there's no comparison when you consider racial discrimination because in racial discrimination please we have to let the board members speak. We appreciate that you respect it and you like that but we have to let go racial discrimination and I I I was in

398the marches. Everybody knows that, you know, we're want to go into a bowling alley. That later end it resulted in four students being killed at South Carolina State because they took the sign down, but they still wouldn't let us in. But when we're talking about when people see you, they know your race. When you have a gender problem, it's not obvious. And when you say that it's a small number of people, um I had this thing at when I was a principal about beware of silence. If I had a gender problem, I would not come to this board meeting tonight. I admire the young man who did come. I wouldn't be here. I think there's a real problem and I uh would ask the superintendent and his staff to look at ways to involve people.

399I think the my view before I left home tonight and I wrote my notes, but as I listened tonight, I heard people say, "I'm a I'm a collaborative person. I'm an input person. That's who I am. That's how I ran my school. I always like to have input. I knew that at the end of the day, it was my choice pretty much, but in order to be effective, you really have to get input from people, especially something this big. And so I would hope that whatever the vote is tonight that instead of waiting until June to decide what the and and I will vote on that, but instead of waiting until June and seeing what the courts are going to do, I would say that somehow the school system, we need to pull together some

400groups. I heard a teacher tonight who says, "I talk to kids all the time. They talk to me." They're parents who don't know that their kids have a gender problem. You know, I'm a researchoriented person, but I'm also a realitybased person. I have this thing about RNR. You have to balance it out. I honestly don't think somebody wakes up one day and decide they want to be a gay person. I just don't think you do that. Why would you want that? So, I don't think people are just out there pretending. I think there are some people who are. I I think it would be a fate that no one would want. And I think everybody in this room needs to be sensitive to that when it comes to being a principal. And I uh and

401let's go back to these groups. There were teachers. There were several people who were transgender who said I would like to have input. There were churches who recommended I would like to have input. We have guidance counselors. So my daughter said it's kind of like a task force. Some task force needs to be developed to get some input from other people. So whatever the courts decide, this system has something in place to ensure the safety and of all children and that include students who have gender situations that need to be considered because tonight I hear everybody and I have some thoughts on it. Now, I want to talk to you about who I am and what my feelings are. And I was a real safety person when I as a principal. And I had these

402little quotes that people call Jessieisms really, but I had this one quote um is and the quote had to do with safety. And I would say to teachers every year, parents will forgive you for not teaching their children how to read, but they will not forgive you if you don't keep their children safe. They won't. And I've been a principal and I don't know how I can run up and down the halls and make sure the bathrooms are safe. You know, I have kindergarteners who do strange things and unfortunately when they come to the office, they want to be good, but they just can't remember to be good. They just forget halfway to the office on halfway back to their classrooms. So, I want to just read a couple of things that I'm going to

403let it go. We I'm just going to remind everybody, we do have to keep the conversation focused on ju just just the merits to postpone the vote. We're getting we're getting into the main motion here. I'm sorry, but I have to say what I need to say because what I have to say relates to why how I'm going to vote. Well, this this this this motion is only is only about delaying. If if if this motion fails, then we'll be back into the main motion and you'll certainly have that opportunity. But we have to I I'm going to vote on the next on the next motion. The motion is coming up. the the the discussion right now is on the motion to postpone the vote. Um that that's what we have to stay in in

404context with. That's all that's all I'm reminding you of. I want to respond to what the school the national school board has said. Our job is we have competing voices here. We have safety for all including transgender and regular students in bathroom facilities and the Supreme Court and various people are going to vote. So this is what I want to report from the National School Board. Number one, they said you should engage your communities in policies and procedures that will ensure access to education while reflecting on the community concerns and value. We have not done that. We have not asked the community prior. We have not gone to you and say what you think. Um they also say public schools belong to all uh uh public school and policy decision should be made after impro

405appropriate involvement of those affect affected in the decision and also you should seek to reconcile deeply conflicting community views and legal imperatives. the legal imperatives has to do with the Supreme Court, the Virginia Supreme Court and what's going to happen. So I don't in my sense of this this came out in at the end of the last board meeting during that time we had plenty of time to get input from people and then make a decision. We didn't do that and I don't think it's fair to the community. I don't think it's fair to the transgenders. We owe we owe more to them than this. So, if the only way we can delay this is by way of the Supreme Court, I would like to see it delayed because I think it was done in

406haste. We did not ask for input. We should not have all these people in here at this point after we've made a decision. We should have had them in here before we made the decision. That's my view. Thank you, Miss Jesse. I'm I'm just going to speak very briefly to I'm going to speak very briefly to to the uh the motion to delay. I think the motion to delay ultimately does it does to the entire motion what I was doing to the controversial part with with my main motion which was to delay the part that's in the courts now um and focus on the part that that we can handle now while waiting for the courts to handle the other side of things. So because of that in my in my in my desire to

407exc pardon me my desire to um make sure that we protect employees and students as fast as possible with the areas that that aren't in front of the courts right now. Um that's why I put in the main motion and therefore I won't support the motion to delay. Miss Satderwite. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that. Um, I I don't know about the rest of the board, but I know we've had a great quantity of email and it has been I mean, we're talking about one email about every 3 to five minutes. So, my goodness, you people do know how to write. Um, it's been hard enough to attempt to read all of my email, let alone the research that I found, what's been sent to me, and many of you are very good at

408research also. And I don't know how any of us could possibly be ready for this vote. So de to delay I think only makes sense. I still have so much reading to do and there were many comments from parents. Um one of the comments that really stood out to me is that we spend more time discussing the model to use for a new high school and show more welfare for students in over crowded classrooms than we have shown as far as time put into looking at this policy. And with all the you know I already had concerns with existing litigation. And then since our last meeting, that's when the Virginia Supreme Court accepted the lawsuit against Fairfax County Public Schools. And I have been told that because of the question mark with Virginia's Dylan rule,

409which is why the Virginia Supreme Court picked up the case, that if we did pick up this policy right now, that we would be sued. So I think delaying this only makes sense. It's um part of our job besides looking after students and besides looking after staff is also to look after the interests of the division. And it only makes sense. um the compromise um it it it didn't make sense to me and you know what I saw with the compromise is Mr. Sawyers wanted to pass a policy to add more protections to the non-discrimination policy but then it looked to me like you like we're going to turn around and discriminate against those same people that you claim to want to protect by saying no we're not going to make any changes to the

410bathroom and locker room. So it just seemed really contradictory to me. It didn't make sense. And I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that if we had done that tonight, that we'd be setting ourselves up for even more lawsuits. And um I think that's just another example why this is rushed and we need to slow down and wait for the courts. Um and of course then there's a question mark that everybody's brought up too that we don't have accompanying regulation changes. You know, we need the we need the rule book. We need the instruction book or else we're letting our students and our staff fly blind by passing a policy that nobody knows what it means to implement it. This decision has to be thoughtful, well planned out, and deliberate. We're looking at

411making a policy change with divisionwide impacts. We have to make we have to think this through. We have to have a comprehensive plan for the division. I talked last week or last meeting about asking the superintendent to put together a task force that it would be in the best interest of this board to ask the superintendent to put together a task force made up of staff members, made up of community members that could look into this. And then when it comes time for us to actually vote, we have a comprehensive product that's been well thought out with all the questions that you have asked, that we have asked, that have been considered that everything's been hashed out. That's a lot better than having this one policy with nothing to back it out, back it up

412because most of us know if we pass this one policy because of the language, it's going to have broader implications. It's going to affect other policies. It's going to affect other regulations. That's what we've seen in other divisions. And we've got to be smart about this. As everyone said, we have to consider what's in the best interest of each and one each and every one of our 88,000 students and over 11,000 employees because they are all important to us. We don't want to see any discrimination. We don't want to see any bullying. And I am so thankful that our staff has stepped up the efforts to stop bullying. I want to see all of our campuses, every single one of our schools, a place where we are treating each other with respect from the adults

413to the students. I want us to be showing that respect. I want us to have a culture of respect in our buildings. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Miss Satwit and Miss Miss Williams. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I believe that uh at this point in time we're talking and discussing postponement and that's the topic at hand. And um I would first like to to just say that it seems as if uh by the discussion of the board that it most of us up here are in favor of postponement. And having realized that, I would just like to first uh apologize to the people who came here expecting us to vote on it. It doesn't seem like that's going to happen now um with uh this motion for postponement. Um secondly, the theme that I've

414heard the most is that um nobody wants to discriminate against anyone else. And then in the same breath we get but that makes me want to postpone because I have trouble understanding how we cannot want to discriminate but I that doesn't make sense to me personally. Either we are or we aren't. It's not a there's no but to it. We don't have to um I'm just I'm confused by that personally. I I don't I don't know how those two things go together. Um and and in in that sense, uh there is need for greater discussion. I I am complete agreeance with that. Um what I've noticed the most is the lack of understanding of terms as gender identity as as transgenderedness as sexual orientation in relation to each of our definitions and what that means

415to us versus what the state law is. what our religious and moral beliefs are. All of those definitions deserve more conversation. I'm I'm not quite sure. I'm just confused by the butt portion of it. I I don't understand that. Um and I would love to entertain further discussion by it. Um, I do want to mention though in in addition, and we've talked about students, we haven't really talked about the other segment of population that this motion covers, which is our employees, um, and our staff. And, um, I just from an employer perspective, I have issues with not covering things that are covered other places being that we are the second largest employer in the in the county. And um I can also understand why we did not have a large portion of staff come and

416speak on this for fear because they're not covered. So what they can say can be held against them. They can technically be discriminated against through our own policy is not covering them. Um which I guess goes back to the butt of it. Um I don't know what to say since we're not discussing the actual motion at hand. Uh, I'm just going to stop. With that, I'll call the vote on the amended motion, substitute motion. Um, uh, take a vote. Uh, those in favor of the motion to postpone this vote on the update to policy 060 until the second regularly scheduled board meeting in June 2017. Those in favor of the motion, please signify yes by raising your right hand. Thank you. Those opposed. So you signify yes by raising your right hand. Those abstaining. I'm

417sorry. I'm just making sure I got this right because otherwise it's a pain to go back. disengage. The vote is seven, I'm sorry, five yes, one no, one abstain. Motion passed. Okay, moving on to item um Dr. Waltz, I know we passed a few notes about what staff was still here and what not, and I kind of forget exactly all the all the different agenda items. So, is the staff here for item 16001? No, we'll take that up at the next meeting. Okay. May I make a motion? Motion for what? Move this one up and then table the other items. just like to move that up. Sean, I can I'll just do it. You'll do it? Yeah, let's do it. Let's do it. Oh, okay. The vice chair at at the request of the vice

418chair, she asked that we um go ahead and you're talking about the interimm appointment, Miss Jesse. Go ahead and take on the interimm appointment um for uh interm appointment for the Prince William County School Board. Um and so without objection, I'm going to take that one on first. 1902 that the Prince William uh I motion that the Prince William County School Board. Sorry. I motion that the Prince William County School Board appoint. Make sure I spell it right. B. Is it Was there a U? Sean, where are you? That's a W. Sorry. Oh w that the Prince William County School Board appoint Shawn Bran as the acting member of the school board from the Brentsville Magisterial Seat to serve during the military deployment of elected board member Mr. Gil Trenum and until such time as

419Mr. Trenum resumes the duties of his of this office and further that the school board adopt the attached resolution confirming this appointment. Do I have a second? Mr. Chairman, Miss Rston, I second. Uh discussion on this. Um I'll I'll be very very brief. Obviously, this was um not only a new thing for me as a far as as appointing a a temporary replacement. It's kind of a new thing for the state. Um the school board has never had to replace an active duty uh that we know of an active duty military uh person before. Obviously, there was um there was a lot of confusion on the front end. The board um not not just me, although I did vote yes for it. the board uh chose to get uh an interpretation or an opinion from

420the attorney attorney general's office um on the matter which certainly delayed the process um in a way that to make sure that we were doing it right. As I stated uh many of times back then that it was all about the process for me. It wasn't the who but the but the how. Um and so we make sure I've actually Sean I think you and I met several years ago on on a baseball field. So we got to know each other a little bit uh way before either of us were going to be sitting on this deis. Um so I do appreciate the fact that we'll have a full board at this point moving forward and uh go from there. Anyone else? Mr. Will, I just want to say uh welcome aboard Sean and oh

421well it's going to happen but uh very excited to publicly endorse you back on July 8th. It was a no-brainer. So uh welcome Anyone else? Oh, let's let we need to vote first. Uh, those in favor of the motion, please signify yes by raising your right hand. Thank you. The vote is seven. Yes, unanimous. Motion pass. And Mr. Bren, if you'd like, please stand, Mr. B. Dr. Waltz, do we have item 17? Are any of these items available? Again, I I apologize for not remembering exactly everything we had talked about. It's no problem. Yes, we still have the proposed sale of VS or VPSA. Okay, we're moving on to item 17.01, proposed sale of EPSA bonds, fall 2016 sale. Mr. Klein, it says Klein. It's late. Chairman Sawyers, member of the board, Dr. Waltz, the

422info item that you have in front of you this evening is the sale. The information item that you have in front of you this evening is the sale of 83,385,000 in VPSA debt. Um the one thing I do want to mention about that that sale this evening is that we have moved that sale up two months from prior years. The purpose of moving that up, you've you've seen some of this information, is to save money because the January February time frame or the February time frame is historically um uh a better market for debt. So, we expect we'll save 10 to 15 basis points and over a 20-year period, that can save us anywhere between 10 and $15 million on sales. Thank you. Any question? Mr. Deutsch. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so can you

423tell us when exactly we're going to make this sale or this purchase? I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't hear you. You Sorry. You were talking about us doing this in January. When exactly were we um squaring away this? The actual close date as it's forecasted right now is March 7th. We'll go to we'll go to market in late February and then actually close on this on the 9th. Excuse me. March 9th. Okay. I have I have questions on numbers, but it's late and I'll talk to you all about it later. Thank you, Mr. Deutsch. Anyone else? No. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Dr. Waltz, we're moving along to superintendence time item 18.01. Thank you, Chairman Sawyers. In the interest of time, in the interest of time, I will post my comments. Thank

424you. We begin 1901. Is that that's being also moved, Miss Rosson? Is that correct? And without without objection without objection from the board, it's it's not able to be presented either way. Um, and that puts us at item 19.03, revision of policy 137. Mr. Chairman, Minister Deutsch. Uh, I would move that we postpone 1903 and 1904 to the following board meeting. Okay. With that, with no objection. With no objection. All right. We are on to board matters. 19.05 board matters. Miss Rston. Due to the time um I will wait until the next board meeting. Miss Williams, I um for had all of these wonderful things and announcements planned to to use my board matters time with what I would say now is that I I am for the first time since sitting on this board.

425Um and and no way to offend any of of my fellow board members, but extremely disappointed in our inability to conduct business as we should. um to run an effective meeting. And I am not talking about citizen comment time. I am talking about um making a motion, speaking to the motion on the floor, having proper time limits and staying on topic and staying on task. I hope that as time passes that we are better able to do that. I understand that there are growing pains always involved with that. I just wish that we were a little bit further along in our ability to run a more effective meeting. Um, in addition to that, um, I I'm so upset by that. I'm I just I'm not really sure. Just threw me off there a little bit.

426Um, in in addition to that, I would also like to say um to my constituents, I apologize for our inability so far to be able to actually do the majority of business that we are here to do um based upon time constraints, based upon four or five hours of citizen comment, which we absolutely should always hear from anyone who wants to speak to us. I think that we should take this time between now and our next meeting as board members to really look at how we are being effective in the way that we conduct our meetings and um do a better job. And with that and that's all I have to say. Thank you, Miss Williams. Miss Jesse, I will save my comments for the next board meeting. Thank you, Miss Jesse. Miss Setter. Thank

427you, Mr. Chairman. It's no secret that our board has struggled since January. We've gone through controversy after controversy and we are um known for that now by the Virginia School Board Association because of our dysfunction where once we were considered leaders and Mr. Soryas I remember when we talked last November after the election I told you that even though we might have had party um political party endorsements during our independent runs for school board but after that the election after the election's over partisanship's over and it's all about the kids and you might not have realized it but I was very very serious. You however have made the focus more about political affiliation than about education. And you know I you need to understand that um most of us know that you yell at somebody

428yell at people and threaten people over your political plans. After Miss Jesse questioned you in one meeting about why we were talking about baseball field use within days she was hit with a foyer request by the lawyer request representing one of your good friends who also happened to be a major campaign donor. When the public was questioning the office of the AG opinion and why you couldn't just select one of Mr. Trinum's three proposed choices. You verbally attacked the character of one of his nominees in a very public letter. I first met that lady years ago when we both came to schoolboard meetings and stood on the other side of that podium. That lady just happens to be someone who's devoted more time and advocacy to educational issues in Prince William County schools than you

429have since you started sitting in that chair. When Miss Rston made it clear that she would be supporting one of Mr. Trin's proposed temporary replacements, your former campaign manager started two attack websites against Miss Rston, one of which is a recall petition site. Your former campaign manager and one of your former paid campaign staff members both came into this chamber at our last meeting and verbally went after Miss Rston during the public hearing for the Brunsville district temporary replacement and accused her of illegal activity. And when did those attack websites first show up? It was the same weekend we had our August schoolboard training session. We were learning about how to function as a school board. That same session where most of us were participating. And that same paid staff member, former paid staff member

430from your campaign, we know he also posed as a reporter for a fake Prince William County school county news agency and sent emails to at least three of the four candidates for the temporary Brensville district schoolboard position. He was seeking information in an interview. Mr. Sawyers, I know you can be charming. I worked with you in Richmond as we lobby for Prince William County Schools last winter, and I know you can be very effective in this job. And the question is, do you want to? What we've seen so far has been the antithesis of what a school board chairman should be, except for tonight. Mr. Chairman, I will applaud you for letting everybody speak tonight. It didn't happen two weeks ago, but you did it tonight. And I thank you for that. Instead of someone

431serving the people, we've seen you inclined to order everyone around. And quite frankly, in my opinion, you've been a bully. We've been speaking out against bullying tonight. I believe you created a culture of fear in the school system. My challenge to you tonight is, do you really want this job? Is this all about is this about serving all the people of Prince William County who elected you to lead as chairman at large or is this about making sensational headlines and power grabs as you get ready to run for higher office? Is this job truly about the kids and education for you or not? Mr. Sawyers, I offered you my assistance when you were elected. I've shown you respect and I've treated you professionally. For the most part, you've shown me exactly the same. And I

432believe that we can all work together on this board and I think this board can turn around and can be successful. But Mr. Mr. Sawyers, a lot of this is up to you. If you cannot begin to take this position seriously and treat it and the people around you with respect that they deserve, then you know where the door is. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Satw. Mr. Deutsch. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, over the last couple weeks, uh, we've actually, uh, had a lot of fun, uh, with back to school nights. We got to I got to attend the uh first back to school night at Kogan High School and really see a lot of the teachers uh in operation. Uh been to a number of the other uh middle schools and uh schools in

433in the division. Uh we also uh Dr. Waltz and I had some fun at the opening of the aquatic center. Actually, Lori was there as well. Um it was a a fun party uh with um hundreds of people in the in the community um as we uh proved that all the water works. Um, we uh we dived in or I you know we dived in. We enjoyed the scuba diving and the slides and uh looking forward to uh it being a a hub of activity and uh um as we as we continue to move forward. Um I uh I I hope um that you know we had I don't know threearters of our agenda that dealt with education and uh I hope that someday uh the school board will actually get back to education. um

434and be focused on improving, you know, test scores and overcrowding and teacher pay and really the important things. Um and uh looking forward to doing that sometime. Thank you, Mr. Deutsch. Mr. Wil, interest of time, I yield my time. Thank you, Mr. Wilk. I wasn't going to say much. I I do feel the need to respond to Miss Satwait, though, very briefly. Uh I won't go into the whole the whole realm of it. Um, obviously, you know, since since you brought up the politics a little bit, Miss Satwait, I I feel free to to reference it a little bit. Obviously, this board changed hands politically speaking, uh, for the first time in county history in November of 2015. Um, and so, you know, that was that was a relatively big deal if you're a kind

435of local policy political wonk and and that that's that's something that that that certainly everyone on this board pays attention to. um when trying to basically get my feet wet in being the chairman even as chairman elect I believe um I was you know often sat down with with Dr. Waltz and tried to figure out the things that you just don't know uh even if you're not on the board. The way things run, how when the agenda meeting is set, how that phone call is made, who makes the phone call, who gets everybody on the same phone and and and I realized that um that the previous chairman and and he actually told me this too when we had lunch when I was chairman- elect and he was finishing out his term. Um that he

436had he he planned the month the month the next month meetings with the superintendent a month ahead of time. So he planned both meetings ahead of time. Um, I thought that was uh too far out for me being new. I wanted more of a kind of a local grasp on each meeting. So, we decided to set it uh two Fridays before each meeting. Uh, which was about 12 days out. Um, and so I had asked um as the previous chairman had to say, hey, if we could have your agenda items to us uh by that time, that will help us plan the meeting a little better if we have the agenda items the day before uh the vice chairman, the superintendent, and myself sit down and plan. Um, I immediately received an email from Mr.

437Trenum at the time saying that policy says nine days. He'll stick with nine days and he'll send his emails in if he wants to add something within 9 days, but certainly it's his right within policy. Then, for the first time that I can really tell, Miss Satwite, someone voted against the vice chairman um in our organizational meeting on January 6th, and that was you. Um, I don't know that that's ever been done before uh in the past. Um and so the partisanship and if I just go back on quick memory um other than you voting against Miss Jesse um for the vice chairmanship I believe other than that you have always voted with the majority of your party where I even today have voted against the majority of my party even in today's motion to

438to delay. So there's been many times, including on the infamous, now famous uh school naming votes that I've also separated with the people with my party, but you've always had the majority of your party with you when you voted. So as far as partisansship goes, I'm going to say the same thing that I've always said is that my phone is is available. Um the parliamentary tricks, the parliamentary complaints, um coincidentally enough started literally the motion after I voted against the 13th high school model. um and have continued ever since. So, um as far as we want to have these debates back and forth about you want to you want to poke political fun at me all day long because I don't vote the way that someone wants me to vote, that's fine. Because before I

439walked onto this board, the superintendent and his staff were constantly constantly distracted by Facebook blogs, anonymous blogs, and he and his staff are taking punches. And if I can take punches away from the superintendent so he and his wonderful staff can do their job and get complimented by the same people who six months ago were asking for his head on anonymous blogs, then I'm doing my job. Because if my job is to take the heat for the school system so he and his staff can educate our children, I'm proud to take those punches. With no further u items before this board, this meeting is adjourned. [Music]