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Parents urge district to allow biological‑sex cabin option for sixth‑grade outdoor school
Summary
Two parents spoke at public comment asking the district to guarantee cabins grouped by biological sex at the Northwest Regional Outdoor Science School for 11- and 12-year-old students, saying provided alternatives place an inequitable burden on families.
Two parents told the Oregon City School Board Monday they are concerned the Northwest Regional Outdoor Science School’s cabin assignment policy prioritizes gender identity and does not offer an option to guarantee placement with same biological sex peers and leaders.
Sean Winter, speaking by Zoom and identifying himself as a parent of two Gardner Middle School students, said principal Beck had told him biological sex is not a primary consideration for cabin placement. Winter said that leaves families without a meaningful overnight option if they seek same‑sex cabins. "Will my children be guaranteed same biological peers and leaders in overnight cabins?" he asked. "Principal Beck's response suggests no."
Rachel Herron, who said she has an 11‑year‑old in the district’s Todos Cenidos program, echoed Winter. Herron said the first overnight away from family is formative and that, for her family, that first experience should be with leaders and cabinmates of the same biological sex. She said district alternatives — a day camp or staying at Gardner Middle School — were inadequate and inequitable because they either require travel and logistics or exclude students from the full overnight experience.
Both speakers asked the board to press the camp and district to offer a same‑biological‑sex cabin option or clear accommodations before the April cabin selection deadline. Winter suggested a pilot or a guaranteed accommodation process that would permit families to choose a biologically same cabin assignment without diminishing inclusivity for others.
Board staff acknowledged the comments and said the district had earlier discussed alternatives with families (day camp or staying at Gardner) and that principal and camp staff had provided safety measures such as private changing areas and a treaty system; the board did not take action during the meeting. The board packet included a staff note and at least one emailed comment on the topic to be read into the record.
