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During the Monday, October 6 meeting of the Sudbury Public Schools (SPS) School Committee, the committee voted to establish an LGBTQ+ Parent Advisory Council (PAC).
The LGBTQ+ PAC has precedent in Massachusetts, as Worcester Public Schools established one in 2024. Sudbury’s representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Carmine Gentile, has also sponsored a bill that would establish LGBTQ+ PACs statewide.
The details on governance, roles, and membership were included in the meeting packet on page 74 here.
PACs serve in an advisory capacity to the school committee, but do not have any formal power or authority. The duties of the PAC that were outlined in the packet materials included:
- Advising the School Committee and administration on systemic opportunities to strengthen support for LGBTQ+ students and families.
- Meeting regularly with designated district staff to participate in the review and development of practices that impact the well-being, belonging, and school climate experienced by LGBTQ+ students.
- Identifying potential barriers to access or inclusion and recommending strategies to promote equity.
The vote by the committee was split, with a three-member majority of members supporting the PAC and two opposing it. The committee voted unanimously in favor of a Gender Identity and Inclusivity Policy on August 4, 2024.