Two school districts in Bergen County are the latest to abolish a controversial policy that would prevent schools from outing transgender and non-binary students to their families.

Policy 5756 has been a polarizing issue in schools this year as some push for LGBTQ plus student protections and others advocate for parental rights.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis has reactions to the repeal and whether or not there will be legal or legislative response to overturn them.

Motion carries.

The Westwood Regional School District Board of Education on Thursday joined the ranks of districts repealing policy 5756 state guidance that grants protections for transgender students.

The Franklin Lakes Elementary School Board of Ed repealed theirs on the same day the Roxbury Board voted to keep theirs, at least for now.

In Westwood, familiar argument on both sides was heard before the vote.

I don't know how a rational person can listen to that and think it's a good idea to keep a parent in the dark about the health and well-being of their child, which the language in this policy allows.

We know that you will vote to pass this policy tonight regardless of how many of us speak out against it.

So we won't.

You see, we've already spoken at the polls and the message was loud and clear.

Our community doesn't want this.

So you can pass whatever policy you would like tonight because we will be back in January to speak to a board we know will listen and we can't wait.

High school senior Amara Geipel pointing out that three of the members voting for repeal were just ousted from their board seats in November's election.

Garden State Equalities Lauren Albrecht says that although their voices are loud, parents rights groups remain in the minority in New Jersey.

And repealing these policies leaves educators, school districts and LGBTQ students more vulnerable.

The removal of 5756 doesn't automatically indicate that a school should then implicitly be outing a student That's against a law against discrimination, which is really comprehensive in New Jersey.

But removal of 5756, what it really does is put put school staff and teachers, particularly counselors, anyone who has contact with students in a really rough position.

So there's not guidelines for them to navigate this really delicate, really nuanced situation with.

Shawn Hyland from NJ Family Policy Center applauds the repeal and says we can expect to see more districts move in this direction in the new year.

I think it's a first step to making sure parents are notified about their child's gender identity and of course, social and emotional well-being and really kind of restarting a process again, that schools are in partnership with parents and educating young people and the next generation for success.

Right now, parents feel in some places that schools are not with them on this issue.

I want to see them come together and work together.

Michael Gottesman points out that these school boards are in the lame duck session and points to case law that limits what measures a lame duck board can pass.

They're not supposed to be taking measures like revising or removing a policy, and that was the decision of the commissioner of Education in the state of New Jersey.

He says there could be legal action taken if the attorney general's office chooses to sue because these school boards are only repealing policies that protect transgender students.

And there could be a legislative response to these districts dropping the policy.

There actually is a bill out there right now.

It would, in fact, codify 5756.

But that bill is sitting out there right now.

No action has really been taken on it.

So in your mind, is the legislative response the answer should the state be requiring that districts adopt these policies?

Look, home rule is the rule in our state.

The issue here really is compliance with laws.

The problem with a district that doesn't comply is the district gets sued.

And whether it's a private lawsuit by a plaintiff who feels they haven't been protected as required or a lawsuit filed by the attorney general, the basic result is it takes money away from teaching kids.

And more specifically, spends taxpayer dollars on legal costs rather than funding already tight school district budgets, something Gottesman thinks is likely to happen as more districts move to repeal their policies.

I'm Joanna Gagis.

NJ Spotlight News.