The board introduced the first reading for a transgender student policy at the January 19 board meeting. “Transgender” describes students whose gender identity is different from their gender assigned at birth. “Gender identity” is defined as a student’s deeply held sense or psychological knowledge of their own gender.
The policy states: “The Board will accept a student’s assertion of his or her gender identity when there is consistent and uniform assertion of the gender identity, or any other evidence that the gender identity is sincerely held as a part of the student’s core identity.”
The district requests a student’s asserted gender identity to be confirmed by a letter from a parent/guardian, or adult pupil. If the parent does not consent to the student’s gender identity, the district staff will meet with the parent and student. The district will also meet with the parent and student to discuss issues such as the name and pronoun to be used in referring to the student, the gender identification to be used on the student’s records, and the student’s access to restrooms, locker rooms, changing facilities, athletic programs, etc.
The district can also “question a student’s asserted gender identity when there is a credible basis for believing the student’s gender identity is being asserted for some improper purpose.”
