Asbury Park school board resolves to be 'safe space' under Trump

Mar 05, 2025

Asbury Park school officials want to spread the word: The district offers a safe environment for all students and their families.

The Board of Education passed a resolution at the end of February that reaffirms its commitment to safety and inclusion for all students, in the wake of what it calls executive orders issued by President Donald Trump since Jan. 20 that "may negatively impact the district's students and their families."

The resolution states the district has a responsibility to uphold all students' rights to a free and appropriate K-12 public education. It says the board recognizes that the district's students come from diverse backgrounds, which "should be recognized and celebrated."

The resolution does not detail any specific presidential orders, but the president has issued orders since taking office on transgender individuals, immigrant populations and other marginalized groups.

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"The Asbury Park Board of Education seeks to establish a safe and supportive educational environment, in which all children have the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed, regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, creed, nationality and immigration/citizenship status," the resolution reads.

The resolution states that the district is a "safe space" for students, which it says means that students can learn, thrive and seek assistance, information and support "free from harrassment, intimidation, discrimination and bullying."

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Garden State Equality, the state's largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, said it believes Asbury Park is the first district in New Jersey to declare itself a safe space "following presidential executive orders attacking marginalized students and their families."

GSE is calling on all New Jersey districts to reaffirm their commitment to protecting all students and their families.

The Asbury Park resolution states that the Board of Education will "make every effort to protect the rights and well-being" of students and families, as well as engage with the community to provide support and resources to address challenges.

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The board said the resolution would be posted at every school site in the district, as well as distributed to all staff, students, parents and guardians, as well as translated into all languages spoken by Asbury Park students.

Ilana Keller is an award-winning journalist and lifelong New Jersey resident who loves Broadway and really bad puns. Reach out on Twitter @ilanakeller; or email [email protected].