Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates running for Gardner Edgerton Board of Education to address leading up to the Nov. 4 election.
Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to the Gardner Edgerton community.
Each day this week, we’re publishing the candidates’ responses to one question.
Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
Transgender students: There has been much scrutiny in recent years on schools’ policies regarding transgender students. As a school board member, it’s partly your job to set policies that guide how schools accommodate all students. Do you support or oppose policies that allow transgender students to express their gender identity at school, specifically ones that may allow them to use their chosen pronouns or use a bathroom different from the gender they were assigned at birth?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on this issue:
Member 1 (two-year unexpired term)
Julie Aldridge
My focus is on ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have a respectful, safe, and supportive environment so they can focus on learning and reaching their full potential. Our school policies should reflect the values of safety, dignity, and respect for every child and family in our community. School staff members and students can refer to each student by the name and pronouns that correspond to the gender identity the student asserts at school. Students have the right to be referred by their chosen names and pronouns in all verbal and written communications. Intentionally referring to a student by a pronoun inconsistent with the student’s chosen name is unacceptable conduct and may constitute a violation of school policy. Fostering inclusivity by avoiding stigma or isolation, requiring separate bathrooms is considered denial of equal access and stigmatizing. By championing these policies and practices, we contribute to a safer, more inclusive school environment for transgender students consistent with both legal requirements and best educational practices.
Matthew Harlow
Did not provide the Post with a response.
Melissa Hershey
I support the current transgender policy and believe that all students should use bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their biological sex. For students with unique needs, unisex or alternative facilities are available to protect privacy and comfort. While I encourage respect and kindness in how we address one another, I do not believe staff should be compelled to use language that conflicts with reality or parental involvement. Families should always be included in discussions about their child’s needs and well-being.
Member 4
Sam Dominguez
I support policies that affirm and protect the rights of transgender students to express their gender identity at school. This includes the use of chosen names and pronouns, which is a basic step toward recognizing each student’s dignity and humanity. When students are respected for who they are, they are more likely to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Regarding bathroom access, I understand that allowing transgender students to use facilities aligned with their gender identity can be a point of concern for some in our community. While I support inclusive access, I also believe in practical solutions, such as providing gender-neutral bathrooms, that can help meet the needs of all students and ease tension, while prioritizing safety and respect.
We cannot claim to advocate for all students if we are not actively working to create environments where every student, regardless of gender identity, feels safe, seen, and valued. School should be a place where students can focus on learning without fear of discrimination or exclusion.
I believe it is the responsibility of every board member to lead with empathy, listen to the voices of students and families, and make informed, inclusive decisions. Supporting our transgender students is not about politics, it’s about doing what’s right to ensure that every child in our district has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed in a space where they truly belong.
Lana Sutton (incumbent)
Did not provide the Post with a response.
Member 6
Greg Chapman (incumbent)
Did not provide the Post with a response.
Keith Davenport
Too often school boards conflate sex and gender. They forget that gender is actually the cultural expression of sex in a particular place and time. Men in Kansas dress differently than men in Ireland, Tibet, Afghanistan or even California.The same can be said of women. School policies can’t target specific expressions of gender or how a student prefers to be addressed without discriminating against that student’s expression of their own identity. Education is a basic human right. School board policies have to be developed based on facts and solid research and cannot be made based on personal opinions. Otherwise we create unnecessary barriers to students’ education and violate their rights.
