A staff member at a Florida high school has been suspended as a result of allowing her transgender daughter to participate on a girls’ sports team, which the county school board deemed to be in violation of state law.
A controversial decision was made by the School Board of Broward County, resulting in the suspension of Jessica Norton from her position as a computer information specialist at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek. The decision was reached by a narrow 5-4 vote. The reason behind the suspension was her allowance of her trans daughter to participate in the school’s varsity volleyball team during the previous year.
A suspension without pay has been imposed on Norton, an employee of Broward County Public Schools for seven years, lasting for a period of 10 days. Norton managed to avoid being fired, despite the superintendent, Howard Hepburn, recommending termination.
Broward County Public Schools did not respond to a comment request right away.
Norton was found to have violated Florida’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, a law enacted in 2021 that prohibits transgender girls and women from participating in school sports teams that align with their gender identities.
Norton’s suspension marks the end of a prolonged dispute surrounding her daughter’s involvement in her high school’s girls’ volleyball team.
In November, the district made changes to the positions of Norton and Monarch High School’s principal, assistant principal, and athletic director, relocating them to nonschool sites. Hundreds of students took action by organizing walkouts and demonstrations to show their support for Norton’s daughter.
In December, Monarch High School was fined $16,500 and placed on probation for a full calendar year by officials. The Florida High School Athletic Association has also prohibited Norton’s daughter from joining any of the state’s school sports teams for about a year.
The teenager, now 16, departed from Monarch High School in November and has since been attending an online school.
Source: NBC News