School board approves gender-inclusive policy

By Katie Teachout

The Journal

Ritzville — Lind-Ritzville school board members approved a gender-inclusive policy at a March 23 meeting.

Policy 3211, Section 3000, under definitions says the district “uses the term ‘transgender’ to be inclusive of gender expansive, gender transitioning, gender expression and gender identity, to incorporate the concept that students may not fully connect with the sex assigned to them at birth, while recognizing that the protections herein are available to all students.”

A gender-inclusive policy is being mandated by the state.

“We get policies from the Washington Secondary Schools Directors Association, and we took theirs and adapted it slightly to fit us,” Superintendent Don Vanderholm said. “We mostly just shortened it some.”

Vanderholm said transgender athletes would need a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association review of their eligibilty to compete in sports not designated for their birth gender.

“Wwe would have to go by whatever guidelines they set,” Vanderholm said.

Idaho became the first state in the nation last month to pass legislation banning transgender women (those born male, but “identifying” as female) from participating in female designated sports in public schools, colleges and universities.

Gov. Brad Little’s House Bill 500, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, was signed into law March 30. The bill provides for girls or women who suffer direct or indirect harm competing against boys or men in female-designated sports to sue for damages.

Idaho’s rules are the opposite of Washington’s.

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s policy states, “Public schools must allow students to use the restroom and locker room that corresponds to their gender identity. Any student — transgender or not — who requests greater privacy for any reason should be given access to an alternative restroom or changing area.”

The Lind-Ritzville School District policy reads, “Use of locker rooms will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering current facilities and scheduling needs, with the goal of maximizing transgender student social integration, providing an equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes and athletic opportunities, and ensuring the student’s safety.”

Boys identifying as girls would have to be allowed to use restrooms and locker rooms designated for girls, he said.

Girls uncomfortable with sharing those facilities with boys would have to ask for separate accommodations.

“If a male wants to use a female restroom or locker room, you can’t deny them that,” Vanderholm said. “But if females then wanted some privacy, they could use a separate restroom.”

The school’s policy states, “No student will be required to use a facility that conflicts with their gender identity.”

The policy allows for reasonable alternatives to locker room conditions, including a separate changing schedule and/or use of a private area such as a nearby restroom stall with a door, an area separated by a curtain, a locker room office or a nearby single user restroom.

In other school activities that may be separated by gender, students are allowed to dress and participate “in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity and/or gender expression and under the same conditions and rules applicable to all students.”

A single contact person will be assigned to meet with transgender students and address individual student needs, under the policy.