Courtesy of the floor received the most attention at the Sept. 16 Northwestern Lehigh School Board meeting.

Jessica Long, with children in fourth and ninth grades, wanted to speak with the board about the district’s support of the use of the school bathroom by one of her children.

Long told the board her son told her when he was 2-1/2 years old he was a girl.

The student dresses as a girl and his name was legally changed to a feminine one on legal documents.

“She is not a social experiment,” Long said. “She is my daughter.”

According to Long in a telephone call to The Press on Sept. 24, her child has been using the girls’ bathroom at the school for a year and there has not been one incident to date.

Board President Paul Fisher said anything related to that issue was not on the policy committee agenda but was raised by parents.

Board Director Ron Morrison said a member of the public was cut off when he mentioned the issue.

When the public wants to discuss various issues, it should be transparent, he said.

Neither residents, students nor staff were aware of what decisions were reached.

Chris Ford, a former board member, said the bathroom-locker room situation is not an attack on transgender students but more of a tolerance issue.

An email was received saying children could use the nurse’s bathroom. He is concerned with the safety issues for all students.

Ford had a copy of an Alliance Defending Freedom policy in use at many schools.

He said the issue should be discussed with parents present and participating.

Bathroom and locker room use should be based on biological gender, not what they feel.

“With single sex access to places like bathrooms and locker rooms, school will be a safe learning environment,” Ford said.

Anthony Schaffer, in his 20s, described himself as a transperson.

He said the onus should be on parents to teach about gender differences.

Schaffer said there are few statewide policies but discrimination on the basis of transgender is forbidden.

“What are we doing about the 16 sexual offenders in the district?” he asked.

Pattie Solt said assumptions are based on lack of education about transgender.

“You are looking at extremes,” Solt said. “How likely is it the extremes happen?”

Board member Darryl Schafer said every letter that goes out from the district has written on the bottom “no discrimination is allowed on any basis according to state and federal mandates.”

In other business, Hardy Stanley received a certificate of recognition for his four years of distinguished service as a van driver.

Director of Operations Arthur Oakes said Stanley leaves as a transportation employee having provided compassion, support, safety, professionalism, kindness and Tiger Pride.

Stanley said it has been a pleasure to work with the people in transportation.

New members on the staff are: Martha Larkin, emotional support teacher at the high school; Amanda Geist, learning support teacher at Weisenberg Elementary; and Matt Givler, substitute.

Fisher reported it has been 77 days without a state budget and Northwestern and Lehigh Career and Technical School are able to weather the storm but districts are resorting to borrowing and the state will not reimburse the interest.

Superintendent Mary Ann Wright showed a video on opening day called “We make a difference” by Kid President, an 8 to 10 year old boy. More of his work can be found on youtube.com – Kid President.

Leann Stitzel, director of curriculum, told the board vocational schools are now required to offer guidance services and the district has to develop a plan and provide it to the vocational schools.

HT Lyons will service and oil test chillers in the amount of $5,856. A snow plow was purchased for $7,145. Bids requests will be submitted for fuel and diesel oil. The district will participate in the CSIU 16 fuel oil network.

An agreement was accepted for the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living for the LIFE service for one student for the 2015-16 school year.

Approval was given for $555 to be paid to Josh and Gab productions for an interactive musical-comedy-anti-bulling assembly at Weisenberg. This is paid from the student activities fund.

Approval was reached with Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 to serve as a conduit for the Overdrive School Download Library in the amount of $2,000.

Lehigh Career and Technical Institute’s report by Joe Reiter included the hiring Lisa Greenawalt as director of curriculum and instruction.

On Aug. 26 Dr. Tim Rushton was voted on as the replacement for Executive Director Sandra Himes.

He has been director of career and technical education at LCTI for two years.

Stitzel reported the education foundation donated $650,000 over an eight-year period.

LeRoy Sorensen said he was glad to see the twirlers at a football team. Last year, there was talk of dropping them as an activity.

The Oct. 21 school board meeting will take place at LCTI in the joint operating committee room at 7 p.m.