School district forced to increase security after nurse shares personal info about student online
Author: Bil Browning
Hartford Public Schools has been forced to increase security after administrators were threatened by far right religious activists upset that the high school had suspended a nurse.
The nurse has been accused of posting anti-LGBTQ content on Facebook and sharing personal information about an LGBTQ student, including their name.
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“The nurse used a personal social media account; however, the manner in which the comments were shared, and the values they express are totally inconsistent with what we stand for. HPS does not tolerate any language that could be harmful to our community,” Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez said in the letter to parents.
“Hartford Public Schools strives to provide an inclusive environment where all students feel seen, valued, respected, and heard. We uphold all of our staff to a high standard, entrusting them to be caretakers and leaders in the community,” they added.
“We as a school district are responsible for the health, well-being, social and emotional development, and safety of ALL of the children entrusted to our care. It is our responsibility to support our students’ growth, personal experiences, and social-emotional development. It is unacceptable for any member of our community to make any student feel unwelcome, especially someone that has a responsibility to serve as a trusted confidant and obligation to preserve their personal health and well-being.”
Local news reports will not reprint the slurs and allegations made by the nurse because they are patently false, but it can be gleaned from the superintendent’s statement that the student is transgender.
Conservative pundits have stoked allegations that LGBTQ people and school personnel have been secretly giving children drugs to turn them transgender.
“No one in schools can administer any medication, our medical personnel cannot administer medication without a doctor’s order, without parental authorization,” said Torres-Rodriguez. “We do have a policy and we don’t administer any medication whether it be Tylenol whatever it is.”
But the school system is standing behind the decision – and its LGBTQ students despite getting over 50 threats. Torres-Rodriguez’s life was threatened.
“This board and I and our staff will continue to focus on an anti-racist and anti-bias training that work is actually never ending,” said Torres-Rodriguez. “This includes accepting students’ identity, whatever they may be and making sure our students feel safe both physically and emotionally.”
Actual Story on LGBTQ Nation
Author: Bil Browning
