During the September 2024 meeting, the Grand Haven Area Public School (GHAPS) board quietly implemented changes to their Title IX policy, aligning it with Biden's Title IX regulations. These changes mandate that teachers use students' chosen pronouns, allow boys to access girls' private spaces, and allow boys to compete in girls' sports, all framed as an achievement for LGBTQ equity. The board's stealthy approach went unnoticed by many regular attendees until nearly a month later.
Essentially, the Biden Administration attempted to usurp the law by using Federal agencies to tie Federal school funding to Title IX policy. Some states, along with the organization Mom’s for Liberty, objected and sued which resulted in a temporary injunction of the Biden Administration policies to give the Supreme Court time to decide the matter. While school districts are free to adopt any LGBTQ policy they choose, the temporary injunction ruling says Federal education funding cannot be tied to district policy. The injunction was valid in all states involved in the lawsuit as well as in school buildings that have students whose parents are members of the organization Moms for Liberty, as they are a party in the lawsuit.
The Byron Center school board recently passed similar Title IX policy to Grand Haven, but the level of transparency was slightly better. The following Facebook post from parents in Byron Center does a good job of more thoroughly explaining the issue.
In Byron Center, the district approved Title IX policy during the August 2024 meeting after holding a closed session and unexpectedly adding the item to the agenda. Constituents were upset when they found out what had happened, so during the September meeting the board gave an overview presentation on the policy changes (29:00), which was followed by numerous parents and community members giving public comment (1:17:00), and a board vote to reconsider implementing the Title IX policy changes which also failed 3 to 4.
So now school boards are adopting the Biden Administration’s Title IX policy because they either believe in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles or are willing to force teachers and students to affirm LGBTQ students in exchange for Federal funding. All the while these same boards and administrators are telling parents that the changes are required by law. In Grand Haven, during one of the recent Blank Canvas events hosted by new Superintendent Kristen Perkowski, she said that the board had to approve Title IX policy based on law. That does not make any sense. Why vote on something that is required? If a vote is required, then it is permissible to vote No.
After public comment was completed in Byron Center, board member Thalia Tilma noted (2:54:43) other school districts including Grandville, Caledonia, and Thornapple Kellogg, have decided to decline adoption of the revised Title IX policy until the pending litigation is resolved.
Boards like those at Grand Haven and Byron Center who passed policy are solidifying Title IX expansion at the district level. One GHAPS parent noted, “This also hits theatre kids - any kid who has to change at a school function in a group setting. Last year my daughter had to change at the eighth-grade musical in a room with a boy who thinks he’s supposed to be a girl.” In Virginia, a school board has settled with a teacher who was fired after he refused to use a transgender student’s pronouns. In Rockford, MI, parents are suing the district because it was socially transitioning their daughter without parental knowledge. In Loudoun County, VA, a high school girl getting raped in the school bathroom by a boy who identified as a girl led to the eventual election of Glenn Youngkin.
The GHAPS school board adopted this policy change at a public meeting, in front of engaged members of the public who regularly attend board meetings, without any discussion and without mentioning Title IX. It was hidden in the agenda in the superintendent’s report as item A. 2nd Reading and Adoption of Board Policy Updates. Since the embezzlement of a few years ago, community members have been asking the district to increase transparency. Surveys conducted by marketing expert King Media, after the first failed bond proposal, indicated that our community does not trust school district leadership. The district recently hosted Blank Canvas community events that were quietly facilitated by OAK/GMB, the two companies concerned with the proposed new middle school design and construction. The events appeared to be a data gathering exercise for a third bond proposal. Again, trust and transparency were key themes at the Blank Canvas events, and sliding in Title IX revisions was the very next action taken. Transparency continues to be elusive.
Here’s a clear guide on how to join Moms For Liberty and ensure your membership is recognized:
Join Moms For Liberty: Membership is free! Sign up here.
Verify Your Schools: After receiving your Membership ID, go to your membership profile and make sure to select the specific schools your children attend (e.g., "Rosy Mound Elementary," not just "Grand Haven Area Public Schools"). If you need to make changes, click "edit profile" and choose your schools.
Deadline: Please ensure all interested members complete their applications by the 15th of this month. Your listed schools will be included in Moms For Liberty’s next court submission. However, I believe they will be making future submissions, as well.
Proof of Membership: You can demonstrate your membership in a couple of ways:
Print and submit your membership confirmation email to your district.
Take a screenshot of your member profile page and submit that as proof. You can do both if you wish!
Additional Documentation: I recommend printing the July 19 injunction ruling (linked below) and submitting it along with your proof of membership: July 19 Injunction Ruling
You can email or mail these documents to your school(s). Each district has a Title IX coordinator— for Grand Haven, it’s Jason Reinecke (reineckej@ghaps.org).Questions?: If you have any questions about Moms For Liberty, please contact Britney Bouldin at britney@momsforliberty.org.