Tehachapi Unified hears sharply divided public comment on AB 1266 but takes no immediate action

Tehachapi Unified School District trustees on Sept. 9 heard extended public comment on Assembly Bill 1266 — California law that addresses transgender and gender-nonconforming students' access to school facilities — with speakers voicing sharply contrasting concerns about student safety and inclusion.

Reverend Dawn Wilder opened public testimony by describing AB 1266 as "a shield of belonging" and said the law "was written in memory of real students," arguing it helps transgender and gender-nonconforming students "fully participate in school life" and that, in her view, "there have been no documented cases of transgender students committing misconduct in locker rooms or in bathrooms in California schools." (Public comment began under Item 7 and the transcript shows Reverend Dawn Wilder speaking to the board.)

Other community members urged different priorities. A parent (speaker identified in the transcript as SEG 466) said protecting girls' private spaces was essential and warned that opening those spaces to others could "inhibit the girls." Jim Pendleton told the board that advocates should not "fight for just one person if it restricts 15, 20 other children" and urged a solution that preserves the comfort of young women in locker rooms and restrooms.

Edmund Whelan, who identified as a transgender man and a former TUSD student, urged the board to recognize local harm to LGBTQ students and called for enhanced privacy measures. Whelan cited national figures on suicide risk among transgender and LGBTQ youth and said Tehachapi has not been a safe place for many students: "TaHP needs no more youth suicides in this community," he said, and advocated increased privacy in gendered spaces rather than forcing students to use facilities tied to the sex assigned at birth.

Several commenters proposed practical compromises. Anne (no last name provided) suggested recruiting local skilled volunteers to modify facilities to create private options where possible; Robin Newman, a parent of transgender children, urged changes in attitude and inclusion rather than segregation.

Board members responded without proposing immediate policy changes. President Kaminski recounted prior experience counseling transgender students and said the district had adjusted security schedules "just in case" for the specific situation raised in public comment, adding: "All the girls in that locker room are safe." Trustee Christiansen said she had reviewed AB 1266 and related legal analyses and emphasized the board’s duty to make all students feel secure. Vice President Kelly and other trustees reiterated trust in Superintendent Bell and district staff to follow Education Code requirements and to engage further with parents and school principals.

No motion or formal policy change addressing AB 1266 was presented or voted on at the Sept. 9 meeting. Trustees asked the public to continue providing input to the superintendent and principals and signaled that the board and superintendent will consider implementation details within the scope of the law.

What happens next: The board moved on to other agenda items; trustees did not place a new policy or emergency regulation on the table at this meeting. Members of the public were encouraged to continue conveying concerns to Superintendent Bell and to attend future meetings.

Sources: Public comments and board discussion on Item 7 (Assembly Bill 1266) at the Sept. 9, 2025 Tehachapi Unified School District regular meeting.