HIGHLAND PARK -- The borough has never been afraid to take a stand for progressive values, even if it meant making a little noise, said Darcie Cimarusti, president of the Highland Park Board of Education.
Which is why Cimarusti and other officials and experts were not afraid to say that the state has not gone nearly far enough in addressing transgender and gender diverse equality with statewide policy.
So, the Highland Park Board of Education plans on taking its own action, and is scheduled to vote early next month on a new policy that officials and experts say could be the most dynamic in New Jersey in addressing transgender equality.
"In Highland Park, we pride ourselves on our diversity ... a place where we want everyone to feel welcomed, and to be themselves," Cimarusti said.
Earlier this year, the BOE created a committee made up of existing BOE members, mental health experts, and the school superintendent, to create a policy addressing gender identity in its schools.
Stephanie Sasso, a clinical psychologist in the borough who was on the committee, said the policy would protect "the rights of gender diverse students more strongly than most districts, (and) possibly any district."
The BOE used the Princeton school district's current gender diverse policy, and a California school district's policy as a model, and then adopted its own version -- which Sasso believes is even more comprehensive.
Sasso, who specializes in treating gender diverse individuals, said the policy would implement a support plan for gender diverse students in the school district. It would also prohibit discrimination, address privacy concerns, and affirm the particular pronoun as to which a gender diverse student wished to be identified. Transgender students would also be allowed to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity.
The New Jersey Department of Education said in a statement on Wednesday that it currently did not have a statewide policy specifically gender identity issues, and that it remained the duty of individual school districts to "review their policies, and use current events as teachable moments for the school community."
David Saenz, a spokesman for the state DOE, also said he was not aware of any future plan to review or change state education policy for gender diverse issues.
But Sasso believes there needs to be a uniform, statewide policy addressing what she said are dire concerns.
"These kids are at an extremely high risk of suicide and other mental health problems, substance abuse and physical violence," Sasso said.
And, she cited research that she said showed an "LGBT-affirming school environment is good for everyone," not just LGBT students.
Citing a study conducted by the Family Acceptance Project, Sasso said an "LGBT-affirming school environment is good for everyone," not just for the LGBT students. The study showed that all students in this type of educational environment are "less likely to drop out, less likely to experience depression" and more likely to have higher self-esteem and to succeed in higher education.
Sasso said she understood the concerns of some, but believes apprehension is due to a lack of exposure to gender diverse individuals.
"Once people know a transgender person, it really sinks in on a deeper level that this person really is a female or a male, and that it's not someone pretending to be something (they're not)," she said.
Cimarusti said Highland Park "has students that are transgender, parents that are transgender, and we went to make sure our schools are a welcoming place."
As to why the borough hadn't taken steps earlier, Highland Park BOE member Michelle McFadden-DiNicola said there was "no shame in admitting that we are human; and we fall short of perfection sometimes."
"But, once we understand that there is a need, I believe that our BOE and school community do try our best to meet those needs."
The issue over transgender bathrooms has sparked a fervent debate across the country, and has fueled protests in many states.
Most notably, the issue has been front-and-center in North Carolina where earlier this year a contentious law was enacted known as the "bathroom bill" which requires individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to the sex listed on their birth certificates rather than those corresponding to their gender identity.
Cimarusti called the law "just ridiculous."
But regardless of the current fervor, Sasso said the good news was that transgender people are feeling more comfortable in coming out, and being themselves. That growing exposure, she added, would only lead to more acceptance in the future.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.