Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Prohibiting Parental Notification;

AG’s Comments “Insensitive and Disrespectful to All Parents”

Statement from:

Steve Dnistrian, Candidate for NJ State Senate, and Assemblywomen Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner

New Jersey’s 11th Legislative District, Monmouth County

Colts Neck – August 22, 2023 – On Friday, Monmouth County Superior Court granted a preliminary injunction prohibiting policies enacted by three Monmouth County boards of education that support requiring schools in their districts to notify parents when and if their children raise questions about their own sexual identity. The injunction will remain in place as the state’s case against these three boards is heard and decided. The state’s Attorney General, Matt Platkin, described the court’s decision as a “major victory for civil rights.”

The Attorney General’s comments are insensitive and disrespectful to all parents. This ‘major victory for civil rights’ is a deeply troubling encroachment by the state into parent-child relationships. Platkin’s comments come from an administration and political party that have demonstrated a pattern of blatant and troubling disregard for parents’ rights – as illustrated by this legal action against local school boards; by the state Board of Education’s recent vote to advance sexual identity policies with no parental input; and by intentionally keeping parents out of discussions about curriculum. All this has happened while Trenton Democrats have cut $85 million in state aid to school districts in Monmouth County, with more than $70 million of that coming out of some of the largest school districts in LD-11, including significant cuts in Asbury Park, Freehold Regional, Neptune and Ocean Township.

While the court was clear to point out that by granting this preliminary injunction, it is not rendering any final judgements or determinations. Yet the decision will rightfully cause alarm and concern among parents. Schools will be back in session in just about two weeks and this injunction effectively prevents parents from being involved in discussions about the care of THEIR OWN children. Parents have an indisputable right to know what is happening in their children’s lives and education and we hope the court will rule accordingly. In the meantime, we invite the Attorney General to speak directly with parents here in Monmouth County. They will tell him that neither he, nor the state, have any business getting in between them and their own children.