A Florida school district has suspended a staff member whose son, who identifies as female, played on the girls’ volleyball team, in violation of a state law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL).
Broward County Board of Education Voted In a 5-4 vote, they suspended Jessica Norton for 10 days from her job as an information management technician and volunteer coach of the junior volleyball team at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek. according to To CNN.
“Obviously, I don’t want to be fired from my job,” Norton said after the vote. “I love my job, but I don’t think any suspension was the right decision.”
Special School Board Meeting/School Board Workshop – July 30, 2024 https://t.co/ogwXupsuzt
— Broward Schools (@browardschools) July 30, 2024
The school board said Norton will be starting a new job after his suspension ends, rather than being fired.
“Our employees chose not to follow the law,” board member Debbie Hixson said in a statement. according to To New York Post“It was a first offense. We don’t fire people for a first offense.”
The school board determined that Norton violated the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which was signed into law by Governor DeSantis in June 2021.
under invoiceAthletic teams or sports that are “designated for women, ladies, or girls” may not allow “male students” to participate based on the biological sex listed on their birth certificate.
This bill provides that any athletic team or sport that is designated for women, girls, or girls based on the biological sex listed on the student’s official birth certificate at birth is unavailable to male students for participation. The bill would apply this requirement to interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic teams or sports sponsored by a public secondary school, public college, or university institution. The bill provides a civil remedy for those injured by a violation of the provisions of this act.
In December, Monarch High School was fined $16,500 by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) for allowing Norton’s transgender son to play on the girls’ volleyball team.
The fines from the FHSAA were levied after five Monarch High School employees were investigated in November and transferred to off-campus jobs. according to PoliticoAmong the employees were Mr Norton, Vice Principal Kenneth May and Director of Athletics Dion Hester.
