Board approves first reading of designated-facility policy for restrooms and locker rooms, cites state statute

The board approved first reading of a policy renaming and replacing the district’s existing guidance on restrooms and locker rooms with a “designated facility usage” policy that, trustees were told, identifies facilities as male and female with limited accommodation language.

Superintendent Thomas said the policy “identifies facilities as male and female” and “does allow accommodations,” and he stated the policy refers to a state statute (transcribed as “21 3 1 37”) that he said defines facility usage by birth. Trustees asked whether the policy should use the term “biological female/biological male” in several places; Thomas said he thought the statute language was included but that staff would re-check the draft before final adoption.

Why it matters: The policy governs which facilities (restrooms, locker rooms) are designated for male and female users and clarifies when and how the district can assign spaces for events such as large single-group use (for example, temporarily designating a boys’ or girls’ locker room for visiting teams during an athletic tournament).

Board action: Trustees approved the policy on first reading and asked staff to verify the wording (trustees pointed out a placeholder “***” in one location) and confirm alignment with the referenced statute. The policy will be returned for final reading and adoption after staff checks and any clean-up edits.

Discussion notes: Trustees and staff described routine accommodations—such as temporarily designating a locker room during a single-gender event—and expressed a desire to ensure the policy’s text mirrors the statutory requirement the district referenced. Thomas and staff agreed to check the draft for the correct terminology and fix the placeholders noted by trustees.

Next steps: Staff will verify statutory language and correct the drafting placeholder; the board will consider the final reading at a future meeting.