School board members in Chatham say they have received death threats after being named in a lawsuit challenging the district’s transgender policy.

The Chatham School District says the lawsuit was filed at the end of last month. According to the lawsuit, the policy allowed counselors to determine whether parents should be notified if a student identified with a different gender identity.

The lawsuit is now being handled in court, but school board members say it has brought increased attention to them, including threats sent through the mail.

During this week’s school board meeting, members addressed the threats and pushed back against claims that they were withholding information from parents.

One board member said that they are volunteers, not politicians, and said they do not deserve the threats they have received.

The board also said the lawsuit involves an older version of the district’s policy, emphasizing that the district is not hiding information from parents.

The legal challenge remains pending in court.