By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — City Councilor Wayne Hemingway was disgusted by the way those who were opposing the removal of a policy regarding transgender and non-conforming students, and on Wednesday night he called on members of the public to apologize during the public comment section of the Claremont School Board meeting.
Hemingway was in the minority during the March 19 board meeting when he was one of only two members of the public to speak in favor of removing the policy.
Hemingway is also a state representative of Croydon and Claremont and is a resident of Ward 1 with children in the Claremont School District. He spoke during the public comment section of the April 2 school board meeting, admitting that he recently engaged in an argument on social media, and was there to apologize.
“Recently I commented on a social media post about instilling a work ethic in our kids,” he said. “The teachers were responsible for providing work ethics for our kids. Needless to say, I attacked the teacher’s academic record. I apologize for my comment. However, I do stand by one part of my comment about parents and guardians are responsible for teaching work ethics.”
He said this statement was not to condone the school to raise the children, but that the community of educators, parents and students need to work together to be successful in life. He was thankful that many teachers felt comfortable to reach out to him and his wife when his kids were acting up or doing well. He was also appreciative of teachers who showed commitment by responding to emails and calls, even on weekends and nights.
He then shifted gears to his disapproval of the group of residents who spoke out against the board considering the removal of a nine-year-old policy that was set in place to protect transgender and non-conforming students.
“I will finally add that the actions and comments of those that attended the March 19th meeting, I would hope those individuals would show the same commitment and come here and apologize for their actions to this board,” he said. “It was disrespectful.”
On March 19, the Claremont School Board voted to table action on a policy designed to protect transgender and nonconforming students until further review by the school district attorney and the policy committee.
The three-page policy was signed into effect on Sept. 21, 2016, and requires that all programs, activities, and employment practices be free from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. It is designed to create a safe learning environment for all students and ensure that there is equal access to programs.
The school board received recommendation from legal counsel that the policy be rescinded because federal funding could be compromised in the wake of recent executive orders by President Donald Trump. On the agenda, the policy had the word “removal” next to it, and this alarmed many members of the public.
During the meeting, resident after resident spoke out against the removal. Jen Gallagher, a former school board member said the children need to be emotionally safe and not “throw vulnerable kids under the bus.” Jess Dyer said the removal of the policy would not protect these children if it were stripped. Hanna Brooks pointed out that 28% of transgender youth in New Hampshire high schools have attempted suicide in the last year, and she inquired what was more important, the feat of federal funds being pulled or students’ lives.
However, Hemingway was adamant about his view as well, saying, “We need to make sure that every child is safe, not just your transgender, not just your LGBTQ community, every single child that goes to that school needs to have the ability to be safe.”
At times the discussion got heated on March 19, and there was some shouting from the audience toward the board. This was notably done during comments made by Chair Heather Whitney, who spoke about her own personal experiences.
“I am in full support of suspension until we can iron out these peccadillos, such as men in women’s spaces,” she said at the March 19 meeting.
At that meeting, the board ultimately voted 3-2 to table the discussion with a time period of three months to confer with town council and revisit the policy.
In the “What’s Up Claremont” Facebook page, there were more than 500 comments about the March 19 meeting in a post made by Kipp Ryan. Comments ranged from full support of the policy remaining in place to complete removal, and everything in between.
Hemingway voiced how he was upset with the way Whitney was treated there, as well.
“I was right next to the individuals that were being very disrespectful,” he wrote. “The school board listened to every testimony with respect. Some in the audience did not give the chair the same respect. Her story was her experience as was theirs. Why could she not be allow to speak?”
