Rocklin School Board Receives Pleas from Numerous Individuals Urging the Rejection of Parent Notification Policy, Reveals Emails

The Rocklin Unified School Board faced significant opposition from various stakeholders when considering a parental notification policy in September, according to public records reviewed by The Sacramento Bee. The board ultimately voted 4-1 in favor of the policy, which requires school staff to inform parents when a student explores or transitions their gender identity. The decision was met with hours of protest and public comment, with many expressing concerns about the policy.

Numerous individuals, including parents, teachers, voters, community members, and residents of Placer County, sent messages to the board expressing their opposition to the proposed policy. Many cited concerns about the potential negative impact on students, particularly those from unsupportive or LGBTQ-abusive families. They argued that the policy could lead to increased truancy and absence rates. Some individuals drafted their own letters to the board, voicing their specific concerns about the policy.

The board members did not respond to requests for comment from The Bee regarding the story.

The parental notification policy debate in Rocklin reflects a broader movement focused on parents’ rights. While school boards are officially nonpartisan, four out of five Rocklin board members ran on a platform that embraced the Republican Party’s parents’ rights agenda. This movement has also seen newly elected trustees in other school systems in Placer County.

One such trustee is Tiffany Saathoff, who was elected in 2020 and is now the Chief of Staff for Republican Assemblyman Joe Patterson. Saathoff spoke in support of the policy during the September 6 meeting, stating that concerned parents, teachers, and staff had approached her about the issue. The records obtained by The Bee show that Saathoff did not respond to a Whitney High School student who had written to her urging her to vote against the policy.

Board President Julie Hupp, who was elected in 2020, faced criticism for comments she made on her official Facebook page, calling for “Christ-centered” parents to be more involved with the school district and for more “faith-based” union representatives. The Freedom from Religion Foundation raised concerns about Hupp using her position to advance her personal religious beliefs. Hupp engaged with the public, particularly those opposed to the policy, more than any other board member.

During an email exchange with former RUSD principal Karen Huffines, Hupp expressed frustration with the feedback she had received in opposition to the policy. Huffines urged her to vote against it, arguing that the policy targeted at-risk students who felt they had nowhere else to turn. Hupp defended the policy, stating that it only applied to students who publicly requested a change to their gender identity. The exchange did not result in a resolution.

One local resident, described as a successful non-binary adult, shared their personal story with the board, detailing their struggles with suicidal thoughts and abuse at home. They urged the board to reject the policy, describing it as part of a larger anti-LGBTQ+ political agenda. Hupp thanked them for sharing their story.

The debate over the parental notification policy in Rocklin highlights the tensions between parents’ rights and the well-being of transgender students. The decision has sparked significant opposition and concern within the community, with stakeholders expressing their fears about the potential negative consequences of the policy.