APS code of conduct update clarifies language regarding gender identity

Aug 28, 2023

ALPENA — The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education last week voted to change the language in the gender identity section of the student rights and responsibilities portion of the Alpena Public Schools Student Code of Conduct.

The change was made to make clear that the right of students to be identified as the gender they prefer is mandated by the state.

“We just added that direction comes from the state of Michigan,” APS Superintendent David Rabbideau said regarding the changes to the code of conduct. “The letter of the law stayed the same, it was just a clarification that it is the state of Michigan that provides that guidance.”

The original passage came from the rights section under gender identity and read as follows “Students have the right to be identified by their name, pronoun, and asserted gender in school records, learning spaces, facilities, and extracurricular activities consistent with State Board Education Guidance for LGBTQ.”

The updated passage in the code of conduct now reads as follows “The State of Michigan currently mandates that students have the right to be identified by their name, pronoun, and asserted gender in school records, learning spaces, facilities, and extracurricular activities consistent with State Board of Education Guidance for LGBTQ.”

During a board meeting in July, some board members believed that the language as written didn’t make it clear that these rights were mandated by the State of Michigan. The board ultimately decided to table the discussion for its special meeting that took place last Monday.

During the Monday meeting, after a good in-depth discussion, the board agreed to new language that provided more clarity while still properly informing students of their rights, according to APS Board President Anna Meinhardt.

“The board had a great, great discussion,” Meinhardt said. “We all worked together well to make sure all sides were addressed.”

The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education last Monday also:

∫ adopted the current district online course catalog of board-approved courses for 20223-2024. The courses are provided on the APS website.

∫ agreed to pay no more than $5,163.75 to Denny’s Painting & Drywall, Inc. for the Besser Cabinet Wall Insulation, Drywall and Backing work as a part of a change event for renovations at Besser Elementary School.

The project was originally set to be $13,578.25 but it was discovered as renovations were going that it would actually cost $18.742.00. APS was credited with payment for the original cost so it only needed to pay for the difference, which is the above price.

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