BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A firestorm over a local teacher using a student’s preferred name ended with the teacher’s contract not renewed, and now Brevard Public Schools is reviewing its policies to ensure it doesn’t run afoul of state law.
When Dr. Mark Rendell decided not to bring Melissa Calhoun back to Satellite High School, the superintendent said the district had to follow the law.
When the school board meets Tuesday, under “Requests to Deviate from Students Legal Name,” their agenda reads, “Parents who approve of their student being referred to by any name other than their legal name (such as a nickname) must fully complete the district’s electronic or hard copy parental consent form.”
The district said this was added to its student records policy to match Florida statute.
Protesters to the board’s decision not to renew Calhoun’s contract have gathered in Satellite Beach and at school board meetings.
Within the school board itself, all board members stood with Dr. Rendell, except John Thomas, who tried to get the rest of the board to reconsider.
“I think she made a mistake,” Thomas said. “She acknowledged that mistake, and I think it’s something that she can recover from.”
Any chance now at teaching again is up to the state, which is reviewing Calhoun’s teaching certificate.
The board meets Tuesday morning starting at 9:30.
Stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com to see what they decide.