A few controversial policy changes have been placed on the agenda for Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, and Policy 5756 is one of them. This policy, which provides guidance on transgender students, has been the subject of intense debate. Rather than working toward a reasonable solution, some board members have sought to either eliminate it entirely or refuse to refine it in a way that serves the district effectively.
You can review the full agenda for the meeting here.
The role of the Board of Education is to set direction and establish guardrails for the district. Without clear policies, the administration is free to make decisions that may not reflect the intent of elected representatives or the community. This is why Policy 5756 is important-not simply because of the issue it addresses, but because it demonstrates the necessity of policy in ensuring schools operate within the expectations set by the board.
What Happens When Policy is Removed?
Policies are not just symbolic documents; they are the Board’s official directives that shape how a district functions. When a policy is rescinded, it does not necessarily mean that an issue goes away-it means that the administration is left without clear direction. This creates three key risks:
- Decisions Are Made Without Oversight
- If there is no policy, school administrators and staff can interpret state and federal guidelines however they see fit, leading to inconsistent implementation across schools.
- Lack of Accountability
- Without a policy, decisions made by the administration can shift based on internal preferences, external pressures, or even individual biases, rather than a standardized approach that aligns with community expectations.
- Unintended Consequences
- While a board may think rescinding a policy is a neutral action, it often leads to policy being set informally by the administration instead of by elected officials. This can result in actions that the board and community may not have anticipated or intended.
The Cowardice of Donna Carey and Tony Alfano
In 2023, when this issue came before the Board of Education, Donna Carey and Tony Alfano made the abolishment of Policy 5756 their ‘hill to die on.’ Not because they had a well-thought-out alternative, but because they were afraid of even saying the word transgender. Instead of engaging in a real policy discussion, they took the easy way out-choosing to strip the district of guidance rather than addressing concerns in a responsible way.
Their stubbornness was not just reckless-it was ineffective. Their motion to abolish the policy failed, and so did reasonable modifications that would have addressed concerns while keeping necessary structure in place. Instead of demonstrating leadership, they left the district in limbo, creating confusion among staff and parents while making no progress toward a viable solution.
What Was in the Revised Policy That They Rejected?
The proposed 2023 revision to Policy 5756 was a reasonable compromise that struck out controversial elements while still ensuring schools had clear guidelines. Here’s what it did:
- Removed ideological and overly broad language to focus on legal compliance and district governance.
- Clarified that the policy followed state and federal law without expanding beyond required protections.
- Addressed parental concerns while ensuring student privacy.
- Ensured school staff had clear, actionable guidance instead of leaving decisions to administrative discretion.
Despite the failure of both the abolition and the revision, the original policy remained in place. This means that Donna Carey and Tony Alfano not only failed to remove it, but they also squandered an opportunity to refine it in a way that could have addressed community concerns.
For a full comparison of the original and revised policy, refer to this document.
Advocating for Real Change - Contact Your Legislators
While Board policies provide important guidance, real, long-term change happens at the legislative level. If you disagree with aspects of Policy 5756 or believe certain provisions should be changed, the most effective course of action is to contact your state legislators and advocate for legal changes.
State and federal laws shape what school policies can and cannot do, and the only way to create lasting, enforceable reform is to push for modifications at the legislative level.
Find your legislators and make your voice heard by visiting: New Jersey Legislature or Contact Your Representative.
Modify, Don’t Abandon - A Conservative Approach to Governance
Good governance is about responsible oversight, not avoidance. Rather than abolishing Policy 5756 outright, a more prudent approach is to modify it to ensure that it aligns with both legal requirements and the values of the community.
Some key modifications could include:
- Clear Guidelines for Staff - Avoiding vague directives that allow for overreach by administrators.
- Safeguards for All Students - Protecting the privacy and comfort of all students, including those with religious or cultural concerns.
- Transparency & Board Oversight - Requiring that changes in policy application be reviewed by the Board, ensuring elected officials-not unelected bureaucrats-make the decisions.
By modifying the policy, the Board of Education fulfills its responsibility of guiding the district within the law, rather than leaving decisions to administrators who may prioritize political ideology over community values.
Policy as a Tool of Governance
The Board of Education’s primary function is to govern, not to manage day-to-day operations. Governance happens through policy. Removing a policy does not remove the responsibility of handling an issue-it simply shifts that responsibility away from elected representatives and into the hands of unelected administrators.
Regardless of one’s position on Policy 5756, the larger question is this: Should major decisions in our schools be guided by the Board of Education through clear policies, or should they be left entirely to administrative interpretation?
When a board removes a policy, it forfeits its voice in how that issue is handled. Without clear direction, the school administration is left to set its own course-one that may or may not align with the intentions of the board, the community, or the law.
Conclusion
The debate over Policy 5756 is about more than one issue-it’s about how our schools are governed. Policies exist to ensure clarity, accountability, and consistency in how districts function. Removing them does not eliminate the issue but instead shifts control away from the Board and into the hands of unelected officials.
Donna Carey and Tony Alfano’s refusal to lead responsibly in 2023 is a prime example of what happens when board members prioritize fear over governance. Instead of skirting responsibility by abolishing the policy, they failed to support any policy at all-leaving the district with no direction.
Leadership requires solutions, not avoidance. If the Board of Education wants to maintain oversight over the district, it must do so through policy-not by removing it and walking away.