Mansfield ISD's District Policy Committee has decided not to further modify their anti-discrimination policies.
In a statement, the district said, "Mansfield ISD wholeheartedly believes that no employee or student should be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. That intent is provided in existing Board Policies and is consistent with the recent U.S. Supreme Court’s decision."
The Mansfield ISD Board of Trustees met virtually Tuesday night to discuss a potential policy barring discrimination against teachers and students of MISD based on sexual orientation.
The discussion follows the Supreme Court ruling on June 15 in a landmark civil rights decision that protects people from discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation and transgender status.
The board took a vote on whether to add a prohibition of “sexual orientation” discrimination to its policies within 60 days of the end of the current Supreme Court term, which ends in October. The vote is mandated as part of the settlement of a recent MISD sexual orientation discrimination lawsuit.
A public comment period via email was held previously and those comments will be read before the board.
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An MISD art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary, Stacy Bailey, was suspended in 2017 after a parent reportedly complained about her showing photos of her and her wife during a presentation. Bailey reached a $100,000 settlement earlier this year in the subsequent lawsuit.
As part of the settlement, MISD also agreed to provide mandatory training to Human Resource and Counseling staff regarding LGBTQ issues in schools, and offer optional training to be attended by administrators, educators, staff, or parents who may wish to attend such training.
