In Caledonia, school board members can’t decide whether teachers and officials should refer students for abortions, but at least one board member believes it’s a better option than leaving the issue up to parents.

Caledonia Community Schools Treasurer Jason Saidoo argued at a board meeting on May 20 that rescinding an existing policy that currently prohibits district employees, board members and administrators from referring students for abortions is the best move.

“I think Option 1, rescinding the policy, takes the politics out of it,” Saidoo said. “It leaves the interest of the students into the hands of our teachers … who can make the best decision for them.”

The remarks came in response to a suggestion from Board Trustee Tim Morris, who argued in favor of “option 2” to retain the language of the current policy that ensure parents decide on abortion discussions with their children.

By amending the district’s current policy language to remove “in accordance with Michigan statute” that no longer exists, “it simplifies the policy” and “takes the politics out of it,” Morris said.

“I think it would be in the better interests of the district,” he said.

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Trustee John Bandow agreed.

“I love our teachers, but this is a parent thing, man,” Bandow said. “It’s not the option for teachers.”

Other board members were on the fence, with Board President Marcy White noting some students do not trust their parents with important conversations.

“We did not have problems before these policies were put in place,” she said. “It has not been a problem since they’ve been put in place.”

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“I would prefer being the person at the reins for my children, but I also agree … that there are vulnerable populations of kids who might go to a trusted teacher or a counselor, and what resources can our district provide those students with this policy,” Secretary Katie Isic said.

A motion to adopt “option 2” died after the board gridlocked in a 3-3 vote, with White, Morris and Baradow in favor and Saidoo, Isic, and Vice President Brittany Barber Garcia opposed. The board then voted 5-1 to postpone further discussion.

“It’s not a policy that has a mandatory adopt-by date,” Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer said. “It’s just that we are now in a position where the current policy, as written, no longer has the law behind it. …

“We need to do something but of course we are entering into the summer. We would have some time to continue to discuss it,” Weeldreyer said.

The motion to table the discussion also halted potential changes to the district’s policies on sex education and reproductive health, The Sun and News reports.

Saidoo’s comments suggesting teachers “can make the best decisions for” students infuriated parents and others online, who are now campaigning to vote him out of office.

“Do you think school districts should refer and help students get an abortion?” Anna Hoffman posted to X. “Caledonia’s Jason Saidoo thinks ‘teachers can make the best decisions for them.’ Vote him out this November, Caledonia, Michigan.”

Do you think school districts should refer and help students get an abortion?

Caledonia’s Jason Saidoo thinks “teachers can make the best decisions for them.”

Vote him out this November, Caledonia, Michigan. pic.twitter.com/JP0Dp3RFhH

— Anna Hoffman (@shoesonplease) May 27, 2024

“This is Caledonia, Michigan. Thank you to the school board members who stood up against Caledonia Community School Board Treasurer Jason Saidoo – (D) MEA/Planned Parenthood,” Sweet Home Michigan posted. “Remember: Parents know what is best for their children! Jason Saidoo is up for re-election this coming November. Vote him out!”

🚨🚨MICHIGAN 🚨🚨

This is in Caledonia, Michigan. Thank you to the school board members who stood up against Caledonia Community School Board Treasurer, Jason Saidoo – (D) MEA/Planned Parenthood

Reminder: Parents know what is best for their children!

Jason Saidoo is up for… https://t.co/lyfieZOuZk

— Sweet Home Michigan (@sweethomemich) May 27, 2024

The effort to rewrite Caledonia’s school abortion policy comes as Democrats in Lansing are considering legislation to repeal the state’s parental consent law for abortion.

Despite assurances from abortion activists that Michigan’s 2022 Proposal 3 to enshrine abortion access into the state constitution would not impact the parental consent law, they’re now working with Democrats to repeal it.

Human Rights Watch, ACLU of Michigan and the Michigan Organization of Adolescent Sexual Health issued a report this spring to call on likeminded lawmakers in Lansing to repeal the law that requires those under the age of 18 to obtain parental consent for an abortion.

The law allows for exceptions through a court petition process those groups describe as “invasive, distressing, traumatizing, and often arbitrary.”

“This law is actually of no benefit to the vast majority of young people who do involve their parent in the decision,” Huma Rights Watch Advocacy Director Jo Baker told the Detroit Free Press in March. “And for the small number who can’t, it can be deeply, deeply harmful.”

Aligned interests are also working to repeal other abortion restrictions through the courts.

Last Tuesday, Rabia Muqaddam, an attorney representing Northland Family Planning Center and Medical Students for Choice, told Michigan Court of Claims Judge Siwa Patel the state’s only interest should be “the health of the pregnant person, consistent with the standard of care without intruding upon an individual’s autonomous decision,” Bridge Michigan reports.

The lawsuit aims to invalidate three Michigan laws plaintiffs argue violate Proposal 3, the 2022 referendum, by imposing a 24-hour wait period, mandated counseling, and a ban on advance practice clinicians performing abortions.