Parents in an affluent Massachusetts town have launched an effort to oust the school committee.
Sudbury residents will participate in a vote of no confidence for four out of five members of the local school committee during a special town meeting on Wednesday.
It comes after 500 residents signed a petition to call for the no confidence vote amid backlash over the members' LGBTQ+ policies.
The Sudbury School Committee, which acts as the school board for the district's kindergarten through eight grade schools, sparked outrage in August when it adopted a Gender Identity and Inclusivity Policy, Sudbury Weekly reported.
The policy allows students to 'have access to restrooms, locker rooms, and other facilities that align with their gender identity.'
It also requires students 'be permitted to participate in physical education classes and sports in a manner consistent with their gender identity.'
In October, the committee created a parent advisory council to specifically inform the committee about 'the academic success, emotional well-being, and school experience of LGBTQ+ students,' according to the Boston Globe.
Critics accused four of the members, Karyn Jones, Jessica McCready, Elizabeth Sues and Julie Durgin-Sicree, of catering to their personal and political agendas.
Four out of five members of the local school committee will face a no-confidence vote during a special town meeting on Wednesday
Parents in Sudbury, Massachusetts have called for a vote of no confidence against the school committe, which oversees the K-8 schools in the area. Pictured: Peter Noyes Elementary School, one of the elementary schools led by the board
The fifth member, Ellen Lederer-Defrancesco, was elected to the committee in March and was not involved in those policy decisions.
'Instead of prioritizing student growth and achievement, academic initiatives, and classroom stability, the Committee has advanced discretionary initiatives, personal agendas, and political priorities while essential academic resources face cuts now and in the future,' the petition stated.
'The School Committee's procedural and ethical lapses, bypassing of educational leadership, and targeting of SPS's experienced Superintendent who has lead the District successfully for eight years, have created liabilities, instability, and eroded trust in the Committee.'
McCready, who is the vice chair of the committee, denied the accusations that the group is putting 'special interests' first.
'Calling these groups "special interest" is inflammatory and inaccurate,' she wrote in an opinion piece for Sudbury Weekly.
'Let’s use the correct terminology and stop pitting one group of students against the other.
McCready (left), who is the vice chair of the committee, denied the accusations that the group is putting 'special interests' first
'Sudbury Public Schools are at their best when we come together to increase student success.'
The no-confidence vote is symbolic, meaning nothing will happen to the committee members, but it will show the public's discontent.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Sudbury School Committee for comment.