Kennewick School Board backs WIAA amendment creating open division and girls’ category; vote passes with abstentions

The Kennewick School District Board of Directors approved Resolution 1 2025–26 supporting a proposed Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) handbook amendment that would establish an open category for all students and a girls category limited to students whose biological sex is female.

The resolution cites RCW 28A.600.200 as authority for local regulation of interscholastic athletics and states the districthas delegated governance to the WIAA. The text, read into the record by the board president, says the amendment affirms an open category for all students while reserving the girls category for students whose biological sex is female as determined at birth or by medical affidavit.

Public comment featured sharply contrasting views. Kim Fowler, a resident and parent, urged inclusion and asked the board to protect transgender studentsfrom exclusion, saying, "Transgender girls are girls. Transgender boys are boys." In contrast, board discussion focused on physical differences, safety and fairness for female athletes. "Biology is pretty clear," Dr. Miller said, speaking from his medical background. "Simply by withholding hormones for a short period of time . . . youwill never, for example, a boy going through puberty will never be the same as a girl." Dr. Miller said the proposed structure — an open division plus a girls division — "allows everyone to participate" while protecting fairness for biological women.

Board members also raised safety and competitive equity as key considerations. One director described three issues guiding their view: "safety, fairness, and exposure," and said an open division paired with a girls division was the best available compromise to protect girls' opportunities without excluding transgender athletes from competition.

On a motion to approve Resolution 1 2025–26 the board recorded a roll call. The motion passed with three recorded yes votes and two abstentions: the board announced Dr. Miller, Mr. Valentine and Mr. Galbraith voted yes; Director Gledhill abstained. The student advisory representative, Diego, cast an advisory abstention. The resolution text and its references to RCW 28A.600.200 and the WIAA amendment were entered into the meeting record.

The resolution requests other districts to join in supporting the WIAA amendment and reaffirms the district's stated commitment to fairness and student safety in interscholastic athletics.