Orono (ME) School Chairman Swindelhurst Ends Presentation, Overrides Superintendent
Article first published on December 19, 2007

Paul Melanson

With local print and television media coverage, and over fifty area residents in attendance, Orono (ME) grandfather Paul Melanson attempted to get clarification on his elementary school's transgendered schoolchildren policies.

Overriding his own school's superintendent, however, Orono School Committee Chairman Robert Swindlehurst made sure that didn't happen.

As first reported exclusively in the League Record in October, Melanson first received reports of an Asa C. Adams Elementary School boy being allowed to use the girls' bathroom from his ten-year-old grandson.  Melanson initially received assurances from the local Union 87 Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Kelly Clenchy, that the transgendered boy was only being allowed to use the teacher's bathroom.

According to Melanson, the local Asa C. Adams Elementary School acting principal referred to the transgendered boy as a "special-needs" child.  Read Melanson's account of his interaction with school officials and local law enforcement at www.cclmaine.org/PDF_Files/MelansonOronoSchool.pdf. In a recent email, Superintendent Clenchy promised Melanson five minutes to address the Orono School Committee regarding the matter.  Clenchy stated: "I have placed [Mr. Paul Melanson] on the [ December 18, 2007 ] agenda to be able to talk to the [Orono] school committee...

Swindlehurst and Clenchy

"The school committee will hear what you have to say within the parameters that I have outlined and will not be responding to your dialogue or questions that you may have...I have allocated five minutes on the agenda for this purpose."

Despite Superintendent Clenchy's assurance, and the official Orono School Committee agenda's clear wording, Melanson was denied his allotted five minutes to address the transgendered child issue by Chairman Swindlehurst.

Swindlehurst prefaced Melanson's remarks by extensively warning him not to say anything that would identify any of the children involved in the matter.  Swindlehurst then interrupted Melanson three separate times by further clarifying that Melanson could not even make reference to his own ten-year-old grandson in attempting to express his concerns.

Swindlehurst responded twice to Melanson, despite Superintendent Clenchy's email statement that the committee would "not be responding to [Melanson's] dialogue or questions that you might have..."

Asa C. Adams School

Swindlehurst said the bathroom usage by the transgendered boy "has been corrected" and that the transgendered boy is now "using the bathroom which is appropriate."  Melanson contends that Swindlehurst is referring to the transgendered boy using the teacher's bathroom instead of the student's girls' bathroom.

After the third interruption, and only three minutes of elapsed time by a Bangor Daily News reporter's account, Swindlehurst abruptly ended Melanson's address to the committee and curtly thanked Melanson despite Melanson not being finished.  Superintendent Clenchy, sitting beside Swindlehurst, remained silent throughout Melanson's remarks and Swindlehurst's antics.

The Orono School Committee also consists of  Jim Bird, Lisa Buck, Stefani Berkey, and Frances (Fran) Neubauer.  All were present for Tuesday evening's (December 18) meeting. Christian Civic League of Maine Executive Director Michael S. Heath released public remarks about the story just prior to the meeting occurring.  Heath commended Melanson for his courage and urged Melanson to continue in his effort to hold the school officials' accountable.

The remarks read, in part: "Paul Melanson has reason to be concerned.  His grandson attends an elementary school where a ten-year-old boy is using the girls’ bathroom.  He has taken action. ... We commend him for both his concern, and the creative deeds of both himself, and his grandson.  Support for the privacy of the student and the family is leading public officials, including the police, to make some profound errors.

"Profound matters that concern all Maine people rest at the root of this controversy.  For example, does God and nature determine gender, or do individuals decide that? ... Should little girls be going to the bathroom next to little boys in elementary school?

Local TV News Cameras

"Is there any difference at all between girls and boys?  Should adults be allowed to decide the gender of biological males who are in their care?

"We thank God for one courageous grandfather.  Thank you, Paul Melanson, for taking a stand for common sense."

After Melanson was summarily excluded from the committee meeting by Swindlehurst, Melanson spoke to the Bangor Daily News. According to their account: "[Melanson] said that the same anti-discrimination laws that are likely to be used to justify the other boy’s use of certain restrooms also could be used to justify his grandson’s use of the same restroom.

"'I’m going to keep fighting it,'  Melanson said.  'It’s going to continue.  I want the law straightened out.'"