An Augusta father was silenced at a Wednesday public school board meeting when he used his testimony to criticize the Augusta school board’s interpretation of Title IX anti-discrimination laws that allow transgender-identifying males into girls’ sports.
[RELATED: Mills’ Continued Defiance of Trump’s Deadline for Title IX Compliance Could Cost Maine Hugely…]
“I’m sorry, but negative comments will not be allowed,” said Augusta School Board Chair Martha Witham.
Augusta father Nick Blanchard began his testimony by praising the board members who voted in favor of an interpretation of Title IX that does not allow males in girls’ sports. When he began to criticize Cony Middle and High School Principal, and Chair of the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA), Kimberly Liscomb, Blanchard was told that negative comments would not be allowed at the meeting.
Based on Witham’s comment, she seems to believe that the school board meeting is exclusively intended for parents to praise school employees and express their satisfaction with policies.
Blanchard continued with his statements, calling for Liscomb to be removed from her position as principal and citing a petition he started that has gathered over 1,000 signatures, calling for her removal.
“Unfortunately, multiple instances have raised questions about her ability to respect and uphold the civil rights of our children and the decision-making authority of us, as parents. This inappropriate overreach has led to a direct violation of parental rights that cannot be overlooked,” said Blanchard’s petition.
Blanchard was unable to explain his specific grievance with Liscomb during his testimony, because as soon as he mentioned her name, Witham slammed her gavel and accused Blanchard of somehow making defamatory remarks.
“I’m sorry, it will not be tolerated. I’m going to ask you to step from the podium, That’s the second warning I’m going to give you about making defamatory remarks,” said Witham.
When Blanchard asked how his statements could be considered defamatory, Witham claimed that she did not have to explain her assertion and removed Blanchard from the podium after he continued to try to speak.
“I don’t have to explain it to you,” said Witham.
“Wow, Communist China right here,” responded Blanchard as he left the podium.
The MPA, chaired by Liscomb, and the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) are the primary entities that decide on policies like the one that allows transgender-identifying males to use girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms, and to compete in their sporting events. Both the MPA and MDOE have refused to change their policies, even as the end-of-day Friday deadline for compliance with new Title IX standards rapidly approaches.
If Maine has not complied with federal law and removed males from girls’ sports by the end of the business day on Friday, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) will refer the matter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for enforcement. That enforcement will likely lead to a complete rescission of much-needed federal education funding for Maine schools.
Despite the potentially devastating funding cuts, school districts such as Augusta’s are doubling down on their support for radical gender ideology or simply refusing to defy the MPA or MDOE by addressing the situation.
One concerned Biddeford father reached out to The Maine Wire, sharing his communications with Biddeford Assistant School Superintendent Chris Indorf.
The father had previously written to the superintendent and school board, asking whether President Donald Trump’s executive orders combating discriminatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and radical gender ideology in schools have had any impact on Biddeford. He also asked what the school is doing to comply with Title IX policies.
Indorf’s response claimed that Biddeford schools comply with all state and federal laws but did not directly address their policy on transgender athletes. He invited the father to attend a May 28 meeting where the school board will discuss potential changes to their Title IX policies. That meeting comes over a month after the deadline set by the DOE.
[RELATED: Maine’s Students Deserve a Choice]
Many Maine school districts have hired the powerful and progressive Portland-based law firm Drummond Woodsum to advise on how to clamp down on dissent from parents who speak out at school board meetings. Earlier this year, the firm advised school districts on how to “resist” immigration enforcement efforts by the federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, including by destroying documents.
Earlier this year, a man was arrested at an Augusta school board meeting for speaking over the time limit.
