Douglas County school trustees to face off on proposed "Transgender Student Policy"

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - There are two items that are drawing concern on Tuesday's agenda of the Douglas County School District (DCSD) Board of Trustees. One has become contentious and critics say is unnecessary and will be dehumanizing, and the other is a second reading for a new grant policy that prohibits the district from applying for much-needed grants if they involve the teaching of nontraditional pronouns or genders.

On Tuesday's agenda, a "Transgender Student Policy" is being proposed that would limit students to using bathrooms, and locker rooms, and being on sports teams that match their sex at birth only.

DCSD Superintendent Keith Lewis sent out a letter on Monday night to clarify rumors surrounding this topic, though there are a few agenda items leaving parents concerned about the board's current focus.

In Lewis' letter, he said there are two specific themes of the rumors being inaccurately spread through the community: 1) the Board is being forced to address a current DCSD policy, and, 2) a new policy addressing transgender students has been recommended by DCSD staff.

Lewis said there is no policy for DCSD and they are "required by state regulation under NAC 388.880(c)to meet individually with transgender students and families to develop a plan which best meets the student's
needs, after balancing the needs of the school community. This process has worked well on these rare occasions in the past, with the District successfully developing a needs-based plan without any controversy."

He said some board members are using their prerogative and have requested to discuss and take possible action on creating an official DCSD policy involving transgender students. Lewis clarified the board is not being forced to address a current district policy.

"DCSD staff has not recommended that the Board adopt a new policy addressing transgender students," said Lewis in his letter. "Our District staff members
care about our students as individuals and work hard to support every child during these complex times. The DCSD staff did not initiate the discussion on creating a new policy but is prepared to implement any directives from the elected Board of Trustees on this topic in a manner consistent with state and federal law."

A Douglas County parent and advocate of LBGTQ+ children in DCSD will be speaking at the meeting Tuesday.

"My fear is, if passed as written, it will tell kids in Douglas County you can't be out and must stay in the closet in Douglas County," said the parent, Amanda Adams. "They also haven't thought of the consequences."

Adams said those consequences include forcing a trans student to dress in front of others that have already started transitioning. It would go both ways - a youth who was born male would become more feminine with forming of breasts, figure changes, and loss of muscle mass. Or, a youth who was born female and transitioning to male would be in the locker room with girls as they have a hairy chest, and more muscle mass.

"Can you imagine the ridicule they will face?" asked Adams. "They need to process this through."

"It's not a black-and-white issue that you just legislate," added Adams. She said the staff at Douglas schools use a case-by-case basis. "It is the right thing to do, it has worked."

The situations are rare. In middle school and high school in Douglas County, the kids have no problem with this situation, and one of the most popular students is a member of the LBGTQ+ community. A recent Douglas High graduate who is gay said there were maybe 15-20 closeted and uncloseted students, and none were in sports.

Adams asks how many parents have complained about the possible situation, and so far hasn't received any answers. She said the myth that a boy will say they are a girl just to get into a girl's restroom or locker room is not happening as the embarrassment alone would prevent that.

"The staff and superintendent have been awesome about their current handling of LBGTQ+ students," added Adams. She said she has only heard from Trustee Linda Gilkerson who is often the only dissent vote against the other trustees on issues made popular by the right.

Also on the agenda is a second reading for a new policy concerning grants DCSD can apply for. During a special meeting on April 27, the Board met to rescind their February 14 vote on grant funding for the year.

During that meeting, they discussed grant applications that may require the District, as a condition to receive grant funding. The trustees said conditions could include the promotion of concepts of critical race theory, such as intersectionality, equity of outcomes, or sexualization of students.

One parent said this issue, along with the one mentioned above, is "a massive detriment to the district," and the Board is "taking these “national Fox News-based issues and making a grand show of it."

The new policy states, "The Board of Trustees authorizes district staff to apply for entitlement and competitive grant funds, as well as other grant opportunities so long as accepting funds through those grant opportunities does not require conditions to be set upon the Douglas County School District that violate any board policy or promote intersectionality (oppressed and oppressors), equity of outcomes, or the sexualization of students including, but not limited to, the teaching of nontraditional pronouns or genders. This policy by no means can be construed to knowingly discriminate against any person or group based on any local, state, or federal law, including but not limited to the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America."

The meeting starts at 4 p.m. and can be viewed here https://dcsd-k12.zoom.us/j/82173392328. The agenda can be found here - https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1502?meeting=580163.