The heated controversy surrounding the Florida school board has prompted an investigation into their compliance with state law. The board is currently under scrutiny, and the full story is yet to unfold.
A teacher in Florida is facing the possibility of being fired for permitting her transgender daughter to take part in high school sports.
Jessica Norton, the mother of the individual who was outed, has expressed her disappointment and frustration towards those who disclosed her daughter’s private information. According to her, the incident has had a devastating impact on her daughter’s life.
Norton’s daughter has thoroughly enjoyed her time at Monarch High School in Fort Lauderdale, particularly her success as a varsity Volleyball player. However, things have taken a turn for the worse recently.
In November of last year, a member of the Broward County school board received an anonymous tip that their daughter was playing on the girl’s varsity volleyball team, which was perceived to be a violation of state law. The anonymous tipster requested that Norton be removed from the team.
In accordance with the 2021 Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, individuals who were not born biologically female are prohibited from participating in women’s sports.
The school board of Broward County took swift action by initiating an investigation into the conduct of Jessica Norton, who had been employed as a computer information specialist at Monarch High School. According to the investigators, Norton failed to report the child’s actual gender on the school records and was also involved in permitting the child to participate, which is a clear violation of the district’s policy.
At Monarch High School, Norton’s daughter had an impressive track record as a student leader. She held the position of class president during her freshman and sophomore years, was elected as homecoming princess, and also served as the director of philanthropy for the entire student body. Her involvement and dedication to her school are truly admirable.
“My daughter’s eyes lit up with excitement as she talked about her future plans of attending prom, leading senior class traditions, and speaking at graduation. She was confident and hopeful about her upcoming college experience. However, everything changed 203 days ago when her life was tragically taken away.”
The girl, who recently departed from Monarch, has transitioned to online schooling instead of attending in-person classes. Jessica Norton, who spent 7 years in the district and had consistently received positive reviews and observations, reached out to the school board but did not receive a response from any member.
The issue of transgender minors has sparked a heated debate between political parties, with Florida implementing some of the most stringent policies related to them. As one of the 25 states with a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, Florida is also one of the 24 states that prohibit transgender girls and women from participating in certain sports.
Superintendent Howard Hepburn has recommended that she be fired, even though the school board vote was delayed for another month. Despite another district committee suggesting a 10-day suspension, Hepburn rejected the proposal.
Upon commencement of the investigation, it was not just Norton who experienced changes in his work life. The Monarch Principal Cecil and three other administrators were also temporarily reassigned. However, following student-led protests, they were reinstated to their former positions. The school was fined $16,500 by the Florida State Athletic Commission for their violation of the law.
It may come as a surprise, but Broward County stands out as one of the more progressive counties in the state. With a significantly larger number of Democrats than Republicans, it is clear that the political climate in Broward County leans towards the left. The county is also home to a thriving LGBTQ+ community, making it a diverse and accepting place
Last November, the police were contacted by school board member Daniel Foganholi after he received an anonymous tip. Foganholi was elected by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last year to replace the previous board member who was deemed ineligible to serve.
Governor DeSantis’ focus during his time in office has been on limiting the rights of transgender individuals. One of his actions was the signing of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which has caused controversy. The Norton family, however, is pushing back and has filed a federal lawsuit against the act.
At the age of 11, Norton’s daughter started her physical transition by taking puberty blockers and estrogen. No gender-affirming surgeries have been performed yet. As part of the investigation, the school records of Norton’s daughter were thoroughly examined, and school officials were interviewed, dating back to her elementary school days, to determine who was aware of her transgender identity.
During the investigation, they had the opportunity to speak with Jessica Norton, as well as three players from the Monarch volleyball team. Norton confirmed that her daughter had already started attending first grade before she began working for the district.
Other parents and children were aware of her gender identity, so it was not confidential information. During her daughter’s second grade, Norton requested that her child’s gender be updated on school documents. The previous superintendent, Robert Runcie, approved the request without any issues.
The district’s policy states that school forms can only reflect a changed gender when it has been officially updated on the birth certificate. In this case, as the birth certificate was not amended until 2021, the district argues that the parent should have requested a change back to male prior to that.
When Norton’s daughter started high school, she was aware of the law that prohibits transgender athletes from participating in sports. However, despite that, Norton still allowed her daughter to play. Her reason was simple – she wanted to support her child’s desire to play.
Before the investigation began, Norton served as the coach for junior varsity volleyball. According to former teammates of the girl, they are not concerned about the situation as the team did not engage in activities such as changing clothes or showering together. One of the players even mentioned that they did not view Norton as a threat to anyone. “I didn’t really have a problem with it because I didn’t think she was a threat or anything to anyone else,” stated the player.