The Penncrest school board passes restrictions on reading and athletics
On January 12, the PENNCREST school board passed a ban that addresses transgender participation in sports and added "sexualized content" restrictions to a library policy that had been approved last year.
Athletes
By a 7-1 vote, the board approved a language change that included the phrase "biological (at birth)" to the district’s interscholastic athletic policy that would, in effect, prevent athletes assigned male at birth from playing in girls’ sports but would allow athletes assigned female at birth to play in boys sports. Board president Luigi DeFrancesco said he believes the change protects female athletes from being at a "competitive disadvantage" and "to prevent discrimination against females."
The measure passed 7-1. Theresa Croll opposed the change, board member Jeff Brooks was absent.
Library Ban
In a 5-3 vote, the board passed a controversial revision in the school district’s library policy. The board had previously passed a library policy in July 2022.
Board members Theresa Croll, Tim Brown, and Jennifer Davis opposed the change, expressing concerns about the possibility of being sued. Board member Jeff Brooks, who was absent, said that the policy is "basically a copy and paste from a policy Central Bucks School District adopted, and they are already being sued for it by the ACLU. The only reason I can think of us adopting a policy word for word we know is already in court is some sort of clout chasing by board members wanting attention."
Board member David Valesky scoffed at the opponents’ concerns about possible legal action. "If we go to court over it, so be it," he said, "because at the end of the day we’re standing up for what’s right and for what God has said is right and true." The library materials issue started with Valesky, who in 2021 criticized a school library display of LGBTQ books, calling it "totally evil"
Valesky chairs the policy committee, which proposed the changes that were passed on Thursday. It was the policy board that proposed the revision, even though the board passed a library policy in July of 2022. Because of Valesky’s statements and actions, some are suspicious of reassurances that the vague "sexualized content" rule would target LGBTQ materials. Board members did not seem to be able to agree on what is "sexualized content" or even what is "legal for a minor to possess."
More background:
- "Penncrest passes reading restrictions" Peter Greene, Curmudgucation, January 14, 2023
- "Penncrest board enacts book ban with one policy, targets transgender athletes with another" Matthew Rink, Erie Times-News January 13, 2022
- PENNCREST School Board (Jan 12, 2023) Armstrong Neighborhood Channel on YouTube. [full meeting]
Videos
PENNCREST School Board (Jan 12, 2023) - Posted Jan 22, 2023
