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School psychologists urge Cleveland board to adopt policies protecting transgender students amid House Bill 8
Summary
Two Cleveland school psychologists asked the board to craft district policies that minimize harm to transgender and nonbinary students now that House Bill 8 requires local policy adoption; they cited national surveys and urged specific measures, including limited reporting exemptions and access to single‑occupancy restrooms.
Two school psychologists who addressed the Cleveland Municipal School District board at the public comment period urged the board to develop district policy that protects transgender and nonbinary students in the wake of recent state legislation.
"I urge the board to continue this important work as you develop district policy in response to House Bill 8," said Catherine Baker, identifying herself as a school psychologist with the Project ACT program in CMSD. Baker cited national data and research showing elevated rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among LGBTQ youth and said "LGBTQ youth with at least one accepting adult" report lower rates of anxiety and depression.
Karen Skevy, also a school psychologist, told the board that research "consistently shows that transgender students experience disproportionate rates of bullying, mental health struggles, and [suicidal] ideation." Skevy noted that House Bill 8 requires each school and district to create and adopt policies by July 1 but does not mandate specific policy language or enforcement, and she urged the board to strike a balance between legal compliance and best practices that protect student dignity and safety. She recommended the Ohio chapter of the National Association of Social Workers' sample policies as a resource and suggested guardrails such as allowing exemptions from parental reporting when disclosure would risk abuse, neglect or abandonment.
Baker and Skevy also raised facility and access issues, with Baker saying the district should ensure access to single‑occupancy bathroom facilities at all buildings after Senate Bill 104 took effect. Both speakers asked the board to develop policies so educators need not choose between professional ethics and legal requirements.
No board action on HB8 policy language occurred during the meeting; speakers handed written materials to staff for distribution to the board.
