Sen. Bernie Moreno Puts Ohio School Board on Notice Over Gender Laws

Clear Facts

• Sen. Bernie Moreno is challenging an Ohio school board member over comments suggesting non-compliance with laws against gender indoctrination in schools.
• Lauren Marchaza, a board member, questioned the necessity of adhering to laws protecting children from sexual indoctrination during a board meeting.
• Moreno has requested clarification from the school board on their stance regarding executive orders on education.

Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio is taking a firm stand against what he perceives as a defiance of laws designed to protect schoolchildren from radical gender ideologies. His focus is on Lauren Marchaza, a member of the Mentor Public Schools board, who has sparked controversy with her remarks suggesting that adherence to these laws might be optional.

During a board meeting on February 11, Marchaza expressed her views on the necessity of following laws that aim to shield minors from sexual indoctrination. A video capturing her statements has gained significant attention, amassing over 400,000 views on social media.

Marchaza referenced an executive order titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.” This order threatens to withhold federal funding from schools engaged in illegal and discriminatory practices, including those based on gender ideology.

In her comments, Marchaza stated, “the phrase [used is] ‘consistent with applicable law.’ I think that kind of gives everybody a little bit of flexibility in terms of like what is legal and what is not.” She further argued that federal laws prevent the government from interfering in state and local educational decisions, suggesting that executive orders cannot override these laws.

Senator Moreno, in a letter to the school board president Maggie Cook, expressed concern over Marchaza’s statements. He wrote, “Her misleading statements could be interpreted, at best, as attempting to engage in the unauthorized practice of law, and, at worst, as the pronouncement that the Board will refuse to comply with executive orders.”

Moreno questioned the qualifications of Marchaza, stating, “To the best of my knowledge, Board Member Marchaza is not a lawyer.” He criticized her for seemingly deciding that the board could undermine constitutional authority.

The senator is seeking clarification from the school board within five days. He has posed several questions to President Cook, including whether the board plans to enforce executive orders and why a non-attorney board member provided legal commentary.

Moreno also highlighted the significant amount of state and federal funding received by Lake County, emphasizing the potential consequences of non-compliance with federal directives.

This situation underscores the ongoing debate over the role of federal and state laws in shaping educational content, particularly concerning sensitive topics like gender ideology.

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