Residents press board on bathroom, locker-room and privacy policies during heated public comment

Several residents used the public-comment portion of the Avon Grove School District Board meeting Feb. 27 to press the board for explicit action and policy clarity on bathrooms, locker rooms and sports participation for transgender and intersex students.

Charles Beatty opened the comment period by urging the board to “defend biological reality,” referencing a presidential executive order and saying schools should protect female-only spaces. He told the board: “Our children…deserve to learn and grow in a place where they feel secure — not exposed or afraid.”

Sandy Bowman cited a recent civil-rights complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education by a parent in another Chester County district and asked whether Avon Grove is using similar procedures, calling for the board to respond to public questions at the next meeting. She asked for definitions and legal rights for the district’s use of the term “caregivers” versus “parents and guardians.”

Jerry LaMastre said single-use restrooms in district schools remain locked and urged the board to open those spaces, saying, “Open these bathrooms up and stop locking them down.” Alyssa Norman, referencing policy guidance from the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and “presidential executive order 14201” as cited during comments, asked how the district would implement any rules for students she described as “questioned or uncertain” about gender, and raised specific hypotheticals about students who have taken puberty blockers or hormone therapy.

During the final public comment speaker, Bridget McNealis, a special-education educator and parent, urged the board to consider the safety and vulnerability of transgender students. She said, “Every student deserves to feel safe at school, full stop,” and noted that transgender people are more likely to be victims of violence and harassment in public restrooms.

Board policy 903 (which limits public comment to 3 minutes per speaker and 30 minutes total) was read aloud at the start of public comment. The board did not announce a specific policy change or immediate action in response to the comments; several speakers asked for concrete answers and for the board to consult legal counsel and the district solicitor about how to implement any policy changes consistent with PIAA guidance and federal requirements.

Speakers requested that the board clarify: whether single-use restrooms will be made available, what procedures the district would follow to determine restroom or locker-room access, and whether the district will respond to public questions in writing at the next meeting. The board acknowledged the comments and closed public comment for the meeting.

The public discussion signals sustained community interest in how Avon Grove will interpret state athletic guidance, federal civil-rights enforcement and any executive actions at the school level; the board did not adopt new rules during the Feb. 27 meeting.