Florida school board unlikely to fire mom whose transgender daughter played on girls volleyball team

PLANTATION, Fla. (AP) — A Florida school board appeared unlikely Tuesday to fire an employee whose transgender daughter played girls' high school volleyball in alleged violation of state law, but postponed their final decision until next week.

The board is in Broward, one of the state’s most politically liberal counties, with twice as many Democrats as Republicans, and a large LGBTQ+ community. In recent years, attention on transgender children has spiked as conservative leaders seek to make trans rights a hot-button issue both in Florida and across the country.

Most of the nine members of the Broward County school board appeared ready to reject Superintendent Howard Hepburn’s recommendation that Jessica Norton be fired as a computer information specialist at Monarch High School, where her daughter played on the varsity team last year.

But many also said they didn't think Norton should go unpunished for violating the state's Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature approved in 2021. The law, which the Broward board lobbied against, bars trans students from participating in girls and women's sports.

A district committee recommended that Norton receive a 10-day suspension, but Hepburn, who was hired in April, called for her firing. He said Tuesday he feels that's the appropriate punishment for violating the law.

During a 90-minute discussion, many board members said that seemed disproportionate. One suggested adopting the 10-day suspension, while another suggested five days. The state athletic commission fined the school $16,500 for violating the law and the principal and three other administrators were temporarily removed from the school after the investigation went public in November.

“I appreciate a mom fighting for the rights of her child, I really appreciate that, but this crossed a lot of different lines,” member Debbi Hixon said. “Her protecting her child, her daughter, affected so many other people and children.”

The school district is the nation’s fifth largest, with almost 255,000 students at 327 schools.

Broward's board, acknowledging Norton's case is unprecedented, eventually adopted member Torey Alston's suggestion that the superintendent's staff compile a list of every employee in the last five years who violated a law, the circumstances and how they were punished. The board, after looking at roughly comparable violations, could then make a decision next week.

Norton, a district employee for the past seven years, has been on paid leave since November. In response to the vote, she said, “it was nice to hear that some people understand it’s not a black and white thing.”

Her daughter, now 16, was class president and homecoming princess before deciding to leave Monarch in November when the district launched its investigation and public attention spiked. She now attends school online. The girl, who is small and slight, often sat the bench as the Knights went 13-7 last season.

“She’s becoming more back to normal,” Norton said. Still, “she knows all of her friends are going to start school next month and she’s not going to be there.”

DeSantis made his opposition to transgender rights a part of his failed campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Florida is among at least 25 states that adopted bans on gender-affirming care for minors and one of at least 24 states that’s adopted a law banning transgender women and girls from certain sports teams.

The Nortons are plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit trying to block Florida’s law as a violation of their daughter’s civil rights. Norton’s child began taking puberty blockers at age 11 and takes estrogen but has not had gender-affirming surgery. Such procedures are rarely done on minors.

When investigators interviewed three Monarch volleyball players, they said the team did not change clothes or shower together, so they were never disrobed with Norton’s daughter. All three said they knew or suspected Norton’s daughter is transgender, but it didn’t bother them that she was on the team.

This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of the governor’s first name. It is Ron DeSantis, not Rob.

Michael Rajner speaks on behalf of Jessica Norton, parent of a transgender student and volleyball player formerly of Monarch High School, during the Broward County School Board meeting at Plantation High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The board delayed voting on the mother's school district employment status for another week. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Broward County School Board member Daniel Foganholi speaks during a discussion about Jessica Norton, parent of a transgender student and volleyball player formerly of Monarch High School, during a meeting at Plantation High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The board delayed voting on the mother's school district employment status for another week. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Broward County Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn speaks during a discussion about Jessica Norton, the parent of a transgender student and volleyball player formerly of Monarch High School, at Plantation High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The board delayed voting on the mother's school district employment status for another week. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Jessica Norton, parent of a transgender student and volleyball player formerly of Monarch High School, talks with her legal council Jason Starr, left, during a Broward County School Board meeting about her daughter at Plantation High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The board delayed voting on the mother's school district employment status for another week. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Jessica and Gary Norton, parents of a transgender student and volleyball player formerly of Monarch High School, react as the Broward County School Board discusses their daughter, during a meeting at Plantation High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The board delayed voting on the mother's school district employment status for another week. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Jessica and Gary Norton, parents of a transgender student and volleyball player formerly of Monarch High School, speak to the media after the Broward County School Board meeting at Plantation High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The board delayed voting on the mother's school district employment status for another week. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Jessica Norton, parent of a transgender student and volleyball player formerly of Monarch High School, reacts as the Broward County School Board discusses her daughter, during a meeting at Plantation High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The board delayed voting on the mother's school district employment status for another week. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Jessica and Gary Norton, parents of a transgender student and volleyball player formerly of Monarch High School, leave a Broward County School Board meeting at Plantation High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The board delayed voting on the mother's school district employment status for another week. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Vientos hit a pair of two-run homers, including a leadoff shot in the 10th inning that sent the New York Mets past the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 on Friday night for their eighth consecutive victory.

New York hasn’t trailed in 63 innings and is riding its longest winning streak since an eight-game run in August 2019. Vientos also connected in the first for the Mets, who remained tied with rival Atlanta for the last National League wild card.

“I think September's the right time to get hot,” Vientos said.

Mets closer Edwin Díaz and younger brother Alexis, the Reds' ace reliever, pitched in the same game for the first time in their All-Star careers.

Edwin Díaz struck out all three batters in the top of the ninth, fanning Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer with 100 mph fastballs. Alexis Díaz worked a hitless bottom of the ninth to keep the score tied.

“We both did good,” Edwin Díaz said, grinning. “So he can’t say anything to me, I can’t say anything to him.”

Afterward, they took photos on the field with about 20 proud family members — including their parents.

“It was a very special day,” said Alexis Díaz, with teammate Nick Martinez translating from Spanish to English. “It was an emotional moment.”

With automatic runner Brandon Nimmo on second base, Vientos drove a 2-2 fastball from Justin Wilson (1-5) clocked at 97 mph to left field for his 24th home run and second game-ending drive this season.

“I knew I was going to get an opportunity. I feel like I kind of want the opportunity in those situations and when I got it I was like, yes, let’s do this,” Vientos said. “We were confident that we were going to win that game.”

The 24-year-old third baseman tossed his bat aside and then his helmet high in the air as he approached home plate, where jubilant teammates swarmed him with glee, doused him in liquid — and ripped off his jersey.

“I don't know if I believe in magic, but I think we have the energy and the right mindset going into this month because we're hungry and we want to make it to the playoffs,” Vientos said.

Jose Buttó (7-3) pitched a perfect 10th for the win. New York's bullpen, a suspect unit much of the season, has a 0.72 ERA over 25 innings during the winning streak.

Cincinnati was coming off a three-game sweep of AL West-leading Houston and had won four in a row overall.

De La Cruz and TJ Friedl each connected for a two-run homer off Mets starter Sean Manaea that tied the game.

De La Cruz went deep in the fourth following a leadoff walk to Jonathan India. Friedl evened it 4-all with two outs in the seventh when Manaea hung a 78 mph sweeper.

That was it for Manaea, who allowed three hits and struck out nine. The left-hander, who has blossomed into New York's top starter this season, was given a warm ovation from the crowd of 25,335 as he walked off the mound.

The Mets went ahead 4-2 in the sixth on RBI singles by pinch-hitter Jose Iglesias and new dad J.D. Martinez. Pete Alonso started the two-out rally, reaching on a double when his drive squirted out of Jake Fraley's glove as the right fielder attempted to complete a tumbling catch in the corner.

“There’s never panic. We’re never out of the game. That’s the feeling,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “There’s a lot of different ways that we can create runs.”

Vientos gave the Mets a 2-0 lead nine pitches into the game when he homered off opener Fernando Cruz.

Francisco Lindor was aboard after a soft leadoff single that extended his hitting streak to 16 games, setting a career high. Lindor also pushed his on-base streak to 34 games, another career best and the longest active run in the majors.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: 2B Jeff McNeil was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth, one inning after getting hit by a 74 mph curveball. McNeil appeared to get plunked on his protective padding, but the team announced he exited with a bruised right wrist and will undergo testing Saturday. ... RHP Kodai Senga (strained left calf) will throw another bullpen Saturday. Senga threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session Wednesday and hopes to return from the 60-day injured list when eligible Sept. 25. … Martinez was back in the lineup at DH after being reinstated from the paternity list on the off day Thursday. He missed a three-game sweep of Boston from Monday to Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Mets LHP Jose Quintana (7-9, 4.27 ERA) starts Saturday against RHP Jakob Junis (4-0, 3.13) in the middle game of the series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds' Brandon Williamson pitches during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Jose Iglesias hits a run-scoring single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell reaches for the ball from pitcher Brandon Williamson during a pitching change in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Jose Iglesias (11) reacts behind Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India (6) after hitting a run scoring single and then advancing to second base during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso, center, scores a run past Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl reacts with Spencer Steer (7) after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea reacts after being taken out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. The Mets won 6-4. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets pitcher Jose Butto reacts during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. The Mets won 6-4. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos (27) rounds the bases past Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. The Mets won 6-4. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos reacts after hitting a two-run walkoff home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos hits a two-run walkoff home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)