On June 6, the School Board of Regional School Unit 40 voted to delete Policy ACAAA, Transgender and Gender Expansive Students. The policy provides guidance on how school personnel interact with children who proclaim those identities.

On Aug. 1, the Board reversed course – after a close election resulted in a shift in the Board’s political alignment.

Hundreds of people attended the June 6 meeting. On Aug. 1 in anticipation, the meeting was moved from its typical classroom to the Union Elementary School gymnasium. The bleachers were out, and dozens of folding chairs set in front of those.

Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies were in the gym. Portland television news crews set up cameras and filmed reports for the 11 o’clock news.

But the droves of people did not materialize.

Approximately 50 audience members watched the proceedings in person. Only 12 people signed up to speak during the public comment period. Board member Brooke Simmons, of Friendship, moved to extend the public comment period to 36 minutes so each person would be permitted the full three minutes speakers are allotted.

In an early sign of the Board’s division of the issue, the motion barely passed with a divided vote of 526-432.

Only three people spoke against reinstating Policy ACAAA, including one person from outside the district. Several speakers referenced comments made at previous meetings.

“Most of what needs to be said has been said over the last couple of meetings,” said Waldoboro resident Robert Smith.

Smith said is he proud of the voters for sending a clear message in the June 11 election that they do not agree with the Board’s actions.

“You’ve heard everything I have to say before,” said Warren resident Torry Verrill.

Verrill ran an unsuccessful campaign to unseat Naomi Aho in the June 11 election.

Union resident Timothy Wood said the Board must slow down and “do it the right way,” or this issue will plague the district every election cycle. Wood ran an unsuccessful campaign to fill a vacant seat on the School Board in the June 11 election.

After public comments and a few unrelated items of Board business, the recision was up for discussion amongst the Board.

Several Board members who voted to delete the policy stated that bringing the issue back at this time violated several other district policies and Robert’s Rules of Order, which sets out how meetings are conducted.

Board Chair Danny Jackson said it was his interpretation that no policies or rules were being violated and he would allow the motion. He said he would not name the Board members who asked to bring the issue to this meeting.

Leah Shipps, of Waldoboro, and Julie Swindler, of Warren, both stated they asked Jackson to being the recision to the Board. Swindler later said that an attorney had approved the action.

Board members who supported reinstating the policy generally spoke of wanting to ensure staff have clear guidance before the school year begins.

“The justifications of the Board [supporting deletion] are actually damaging the Board’s reputation. The quickest way to remedy that is to rescind the action,” said Ben Stickney, of Waldoboro.

Rachel Wilcox, of Union, said she was particularly moved by the fact that 100 children signed a petition requesting the policy remain; no children submitted a petition to delete the policy.

Randy Kassa, of Warren, said the issue should be taken up by the policy committee first before being brought back to the full Board.

Joshua Blackman, of Warren, made accusations about a “bigger picture” wherein “global elites” are attempting to reduce the population. Blackman said gender theory is “so-called science” and as false as the theory of evolution and the theory of gravity.

Melvin Williams, of Waldoboro, then moved the question, forcing a vote on ending debate and moving to vote on the issue.

The Board then voted 568-390 to rescind the deletion, thus re-instating Policy ACAAA.

Voting to restore the policy were Board members Julia Abernathy, of Washington; Erik Amundson and Rachel Wilcox, of Union; Danny Jackson, Leah Shipps, Ben Stickney, and Emily Trask-Eaton, of Waldoboro; Julie Swindler, of Warren, and Brooke Simmons, of Friendship.

Voting against the recision were Naomi Aho, Josh Blackman, Randy Kassa, all of Warren; Noah Botley, of Washington; Nichole Taylor, of Union; and Melvin Williams, of Waldoboro.

Joseph Henry, of Friendship, was absent. He previously voted to delete the policy.

RSU40 educates students in the towns of Friendship, Union, Waldoboro, Warren, and Washington.