Parents, students call on Knoch to withdraw from lawsuit
JEFFERSON TWP — A month after the Knoch School District voted to join in a lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission regarding sex discrimination regulations, parents of the district are calling on the school district to reverse course and withdraw.
The Knoch Middle School library was packed on Wednesday night, April 9, as parents, teachers and students expressed frustration with the school board for their decision to enter into the lawsuit — a decision some said was made behind their backs.
“There’s so much about this lawsuit that concerns me,” said Colleen Smith. “As soon as I heard about it, I started having questions. Did something happen? What did I miss? What's going on? Why is this a concern? And as I dug in, I wasn't able to find those answers.”
The school board voted during its previous meeting March 5 to participate in the lawsuit along with South Side School District in Beaver County. The lawsuit claims the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission, and the state as a whole, is acting without authority to expand the definition of “sex.”
Multiple speakers condemned the school board for what they saw as implicitly endorsing an atmosphere of intolerance among marginalized groups by taking part in the lawsuit.
“This board chose to join a lawsuit that targets transgender students without ever notifying the public, without publicizing the vote and without a single shred of transparency,” said Chelsea Schilpp, Penn Township resident and owner of Center Stage Dance Academy in Pittsburgh. “And as a Christian, I am appalled.”
During the public comment portion of Wednesday’s meeting, multiple speakers said they were blindsided by news of the lawsuit, with some questioning whether the school even legally placed the lawsuit item on the agenda the previous month.
“I learned that it got onto the agenda within hours of the meeting on March 5,” Smith said.
Tom Breth, the school district’s solicitor, says the procedure for putting the lawsuit item on the agenda was slightly unusual due to a time crunch, but it still was aboveboard.
“It was discussed by the board of school directors in executive session the month before,” Breth said. “It was added to the agenda because it was time-sensitive, because the complaint was going to be filed within a day so they needed an answer if we were going to join. It was publicly announced in advance of the vote. People had an opportunity to publicly comment on it.”
Not one speaker came to the defense of the school district Wednesday. Even loyal Knoch parents and students criticized the district. Multiple speakers questioned why the school spent $10,000 in legal fees to join the lawsuit — taxpayer money some say could have gone to better use.
Smith circulated a petition with more than 100 signatures, including those of Knoch alumni, asking the district to withdraw from the lawsuit. During her speech, Schilpp went even further.
“I demand three things. One, immediate withdrawal from this lawsuit,” Schilpp said. “Two, a public apology to the transgender students and families hurt by your actions. And three, a full public accounting of every cent spent on this disgraceful legal endeavor. And if you refuse, know that we will not forget.”
The school board wasn’t even safe from their own students, as Schilpp’s son, Harrison — a senior at Knoch High School — also spoke against the lawsuit.
“As a student, as a performer, and as a member of this community, I'm deeply disappointed, and honestly heartbroken, that our school district would choose to align itself with something so harmful, exclusionary and unnecessary,” Harrison said. “I’ve always been proud to say I’m from Knoch. Don’t make me ashamed to say that.”
Some speakers also accused Breth of having a conflict of interest in filing the petition. In addition to serving as the district’s solicitor, Breth also serves as special counsel for the Thomas More Society, a conservative Chicago-based law firm that advocates on behalf of faith-based causes.
“I am puzzled as to why our school district would get involved in a lawsuit that is spearheaded by the Thomas More Society,” said Joanna Wood, parent of a student at Knoch Primary School. “Why are we allowing ourselves to get involved with the Thomas More Society when our own school board’s motto is to establish educational goals and support student achievement?”
“I take offense to their mischaracterization of the fine work that the Thomas More Society does,” Breth said. “I believe that they’ve mischaracterized the intent of the lawsuit.”
No action was taken by the school board regarding the lawsuit after the wave of public comment, as no items related to the lawsuit were on the agenda for the meeting.
When asked whether Wednesday night’s events would influence the board to take any action, Knoch School District superintendent David Foley said he had no comment.
“I respect the opinions that were expressed this evening to the school board,” Breth said. “I’ve spoken to many of the people who were here this evening, and I think the board indicated today they’re going to take into consideration all comments that they made.”
