CHATHAM - Battles over gay rights and books in schools may have seemed lukewarm of late, superseded by war, gas prices and the midterms.

But now - just in line with the opening of school - comes a Moms for Liberty suit against the local school district.

The federal suit gets right to the point. Here's how the intro begins:

"Activist school boards across the country are radically interfering with the moral and religious development of the impressionable and suggestible children in their captive audiences by imposing 'gender transition' policies. Under these policies, parents have no right to know of a child’s supposed 'social transition' to a gender other than their biological gender, which religiously motivated parents view as an ineradicable divine election, not a child’s personal choice."

The district here is the School District of the Chathams, which covers Chatham Borough and Chatham Township in eastern Morris County.

In what may be relevant to the topic at hand, the towns were staunchly Republican 30 years ago, but are now Democratic-controlled.

The suit was filed on behalf of individuals labeled A, B, C and D

A and B are parents; C and D are identified as female students in the "early grades of the district's elementary schools."

The core of the suit centers on a state policy known as 5145.7. Here's how it begins:

"The board of education believes that a school culture that supports student achievement, respects the values of all students and fosters understanding of gender identity and expression within the school community is a safe learning environment. New Jersey law and district policy require that all programs, activities, and employment practices be free from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Therefore in keeping with these mandates the board is committed to creating a safe learning environment for all students and to ensure that every student has equal access to all school programs and activities."

That statement in itself should not be controversial. Strip away the bureaucratic verbiage and the message is to treat all students with respect.

The problem from the vantage point of Moms for Liberty is that it can leave parents out.

In terms of a student's gender status, confidentiality is key. That can exclude parents. From the policy:

"Students who do not want their parents/guardians to know about their transgender status shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, notifying parents/guardians carries risks for the student, such as being kicked out of the home."

In simple terms, the policy says do not tell the parents if there is evidence the student will be treated harshly.

Not surprisingly, the suit has little use for this nuance, arguing that the district is following the trend of "arrogant usurpation of the constitutionally protected right of parents to guide the religious and moral formation of their children according to their belief in God."

Nothing happens in a vacuum and earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a California case that public schools could not keep such information about students from their parents.

That ruling prompted a statement by the Board President in June.

In what was obviously the work of the district's attorney, the gist of the statement was the following:

"The Board of Education is required to adhere to State and federal law.  The United States Supreme Court decision, Mirabelli, is not binding on public school districts in New Jersey.  It addressed an injunction pertaining to a California school district policy and did not make any substantive findings but simply indicated whether the plaintiffs in that case had a likelihood of success on certain claims."'

The suit termed that statement "false and misleading."

The suit also postulated that the students cited - C and D - could be harassed if they refuse to call a transitioning student by his, or her, preferred name.

For example, if they refuse to say "Tommy is now Sally."

Federal suits are not normally discussed in public. But just for the record, the next board meeting is Sept. 14,