Moses Lake School District bypassing WIAA, making own policy on transgender athletes

MOSES LAKE, Wash. – The Moses Lake School District could be among the first in Washington to specifically prohibit students born male from competing in girls’ sports.

The school board has drafted a letter to Governor Bob Ferguson and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal.

The letter says the district has resolved to revise current policies, effective immediately.

Those changes include updating restroom and locker room policies.

The school board specifically cites directives handed down by President Trump and the Department of Education.

It chastises Ferguson and Reykdal, saying “you have made it very clear that you have no intention of following the directives.”

“Your actions, Superintendent Chris Reykdal, and words could have dire consequences for all schools in Washington State,” the letter says. “And your viewpoints do not reflect the community we serve nor the students we have the honor to serve and protect.”

“We trust that your office will also uphold federal law, without allowing personal biases or differing viewpoints to jeopardize the Moses Lake School District’s Federal funding.”

The school board plans to vote on the letter itself at a meeting Thursday.

The Department of Education is already taking action in some places where athletes born male are participating in women’s sports.

One investigation is already underway in Tumwater, Washington where there was a complaint over a transgender athlete participating in girls basketball.

It’s not clear from other school board meeting documents when this discussion took place among the school board.

The February 20th superintendent’s report lists “federal changes we are watching” and includes “indoctrination in K-12 schooling” and “Title IX reversal.”

The WIAA, the independent organization that sets the rules for public school sports in Washington, is considering changes to its policies regarding transgender athletes, but has not yet voted to do so.