SPOKANE, Wash – Citing conflicts between Washington law and federal law, the Mead School District board of directors could make policy changes at its meeting Monday night regarding how the district treats transgender students.
It proposes no changes, though, in transgender participation in sports.
The Mead School District has previously made its concerns known about Washington law which allows students to compete in sports and conduct themselves in school in a way that is consistent with their gender identity.
Recent federal guidance under the Trump administration, though, says school districts should require students to participate in accordance with their assigned gender at birth.
The Trump administration even sued Maine over participation of transgender athletes in girls sports.
The policy being considered Monday night would side more with federal law, but does stay consistent with state law in other ways.
The draft of the policy says “The Mead School District is obligated to comply with both state and federal law. When conflict exists, it acknowledges clear precedent for federal guidance to preempt state directives.”
The district acknowledges it’s at risk of losing state and federal funding, depending on how it shapes this new policy.
The policy says the district would:
Encourage a principal or building administrator to meet with a transgender student upon enrollment or change in gender expression. “The student’s parents or guardian should be involved in the meeting if at all possible.” The policy says the district would first consult with the student to see if any safety concerns exist regarding family involvement. The meeting would not be required.Use the student’s requested name in lieu of pronouns. The district would keep private the student’s legal name and address them by the name they prefer.The policy would grant parents the right to access their student’s medical information unless otherwise protected by law.Assess locker room access for transgender students on a case-by-case basis. The district will try to follow Washington OSPI guidance and accommodate transgender students access based on gender identity, “but final determination and access will be balanced against the facilities available and the needs of the student population as a whole.” It says specifically that students could be accommodated with use of a private area or separate changing schedule, but that “no student will be required to use a locker room that conflicts with his or her gender identity.”The district says students participating in sports will do so in concert with the WIAA rules, which allow students to participate based on gender identity.For any overnight school trips, student rooms will be assigned based on sex at birth.
At a previous school board meeting discussing this issue, a longtime Mead teacher spoke of concerns about how teachers would be involved in enforcing or policing any of the proposed policies.
Several community members supported the district making a change, saying they believe transgender students in girls’ spaces would be dangerous.
One mother of a transgender student spoke in opposition, saying it’s a “terrifying time” for transgender students and their voices are likely not being heard.
She said her son would avoid even drinking anything in schools because he did not want to impose on anyone and use the restroom at school.
Mead is so far the only Spokane County school district to consider changing policy in regard to transgender students.
The board meets at 6 pm Monday night.
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