Overview

• Nick Blanchard, wearing politically charged attire, was interrupted and silenced by Augusta School Board Chair Martha Witham while criticizing trans athlete inclusion and advocating for the 2020 Title IX interpretation.
• Blanchard launched a petition to remove Cony Middle and High School Principal Kim Liscomb due to her role as president of the Maine Principals’ Association, which supports transgender athlete inclusion.
• The meeting underscored divisions over local and federal pressures, with Maine facing funding freezes and potential Justice Department referrals if policies are not amended by Friday's deadline.
• Blanchard's remarks, which included calling the situation 'Communist China,' reflect the highly polarized political climate surrounding the issue in Maine.
• The Maine Principals’ Association defended Liscomb, while the Augusta superintendent attributed the dispute to national partisan politics influencing local governance.