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Residents press Winneconne school board to rescind or reject recent Title IX changes
Summary
Dozens of residents used the board's public comment period to urge the Winneconne Community School District to reverse or reject changes to how the district applies Title IX, citing parental rights, student safety and legal concerns; the board did not take immediate additional action on Title IX at the meeting.
Residents at a Winneconne Community School District board meeting urged trustees to rescind or reject changes to the district’s Title IX implementation, saying the revisions either remove protections for transgender students or do not transparently address parental concerns.
At the public forum multiple speakers — including Tim Vanderloop, Carrie Fly and Kelly Hartright — told the board they were alarmed by last month’s vote to adopt Title IX-related rules. Tim Vanderloop said the public “needs to hear and know who voted for this,” and criticized the board for voting ahead of the November election. Carrie Fly told the board that omitting language from a proposed executive order “changes nothing” and asked, “If you can change or omit certain language, why can’t you reject the order completely?”
Others framed their remarks around student safety and legal risk. Kelly Hartright, speaking about transgender and nonbinary students, said removing gender-identity protections sends the message that those students “are not worthy of protection.” Cynthia Otten, who identified herself as a parent and Moms for Liberty member, said she had consulted attorneys and asserted the district “does not have to implement the Title IX final ruling changes,” and that board members who voted “yes” did so knowingly. Otten warned additional approval of similar measures could prompt complaints or lawsuits.
Several speakers recounted individual student harms they said required the board’s attention. Elizabeth Clemens described repeated bullying of her daughter, including an incident in which a classmate filled a water bottle with toilet water, and said school staff dismissed her concerns. Other parents described cases they said involved yearbook-name changes without parental consent and students being allowed in locker-room spaces without prior notice to families.
Board members did not reverse or amend the Title IX action during this meeting. Several residents asked the board to obtain legal guidance and to develop a clear district policy addressing privacy and parental-notification practices rather than relying on ad hoc decisions. The meeting’s business agenda proceeded after public comment.
