Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Athletics Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Multiple speakers urge Tacoma board to support WIAA amendments and policies to protect girls' sports
Summary
Several community members asked the board to adopt policies supporting WIAA Amendments 7 and 8 and to ensure girls' competitive opportunities and safety, citing Title IX and concerns about fairness.
A string of public commenters asked the Tacoma Public Schools board to back policies that would restrict participation in girls' sports to biological females and to support Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Amendments 7 and 8.
Jeremy Brown told the board his request was to "join this important movement by supporting WIAA Amendments 7 and 8," which he said would "reinforce the message that every young athlete...deserves a level playing field." Speaker Gretchen Stockman, who identified herself as a mother and community therapist, told the board allowing "biological males to compete in girls sports is neither fair nor safe," adding that affirming girls' opportunities is consistent with protecting the rights of female athletes.
Other speakers echoed that call. Dawn Land (identified in public comment) cited comparative athletic performance data and said "women have fought long and hard to have our own spaces and our own sports" and asked the district to "keep all males out of girls' sports." Several speakers linked their concerns to Title IX and to the financial implications they said could follow if the district's stance differs from state or federal expectations.
Speakers also addressed the board's role. Some told the board the district has authority over athletic directors and superintendents and urged the board to direct local administrators to confirm the district's vote or policy position before state-level deadlines or votes.
The board did not take any formal action on the requests during the meeting. Public-comment rules were read at the start of the session; the superintendent or designee is expected to follow up with commenters if action is needed. The transcript shows differing views were presented from multiple speakers during the public-comment period, but no board resolution, ordinance, or vote on athletic policy occurred at this meeting.
Ending: Commenters asked the board to adopt or confirm a district stance on girls' sports and to direct staff accordingly; the board did not act during the meeting and has not scheduled a formal vote in the record of this session.
