Deborah M. Marko

dmarko@thedailyjournal.com

VINELAND – The school board has introduced a policy to address the needs of the district's transgender students.

The goal of the policy is ensure the district's schools provide a supportive environment where transgender students "can feel comfortable and safe," said Susanne Morello, of the board's policy and personnel committee.

A public hearing is scheduled for the Dec. 10 regular meeting.

The school board "believes the responsibility for determining a student's gender-related identity issues rests with the student, or in the case of young students not yet able to advocate for themselves, with the parent," the proposed policy reads.

The policy notes the school board recognizes school-related issues regarding transgender students will vary on a case-by-case basis.

If approved, the policy calls for the administration to meet with the student and parent to address school-related issues, including the name and pronoun to be used by district staff in referring to the student, gender identification to be used on school records and district staff members should be informed of student's access and use of restrooms and locker rooms.

In other business, Barse Elementary School was a recipient of 100 science-themed books from Sally Ride Science, a science, technology, engineering and math organization founded by the first American woman in space, and thanks in part to a grant from South Jersey Gas. The school chooses from the organization's book list, which covers various topics including astronomy, earth science and climate change.

Barse Principal Sylvia Moreno noted the donation was worth $810.

The school board voted to cancel 13 checks, made out to district employees, that were never cashed. The funds will now be forwarded to the N.J. Department of Treasury Unclaimed Property Administration.

District officials said they tried but were unsuccessful in tracking down the former staffers. The checks, written between September 2012 and June 2013, range from 15 cents to $671.59.

Sabater Elementary School Principal Monica Dannenberger has put in for retirement, effective Sept. 1, 2015. She has worked for the school district for 25 years.

Also retiring is Henry Weintraub, the district's testing coordinator, who has been a district employee for 40 years. His retirement is effective July, 1, 2015.