Winthrop board splits over move to change transgender-student policy; sets June 3 deadline for new draft

The Winthrop School Board spent the bulk of its meeting debating a March 4 directive to revise district policy JB on transgender students, hearing two hours of public comment from students, residents, and alumni before taking action to set a schedule for further policy work.

"I raise this as a reminder of your obligation to all students and families of Winthrop," Whitney Khan, a Winthrop parent, told the board while handing out materials from the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association. Khan argued the March 4 motion "conflicts with Maine law" and asked the board to rescind it or refer it to the policy committee.

Supporters of the March 4 action and opponents both addressed the board. Anthony Wheeler, who identified himself as a transgender man and Winthrop resident, said changes would harm transgender students and cited national health organizations and studies in support of inclusive access. "When we treat transgender kids right and give them the access to spaces that correspond with their identity, we give them room to truly thrive and learn authentically," Wheeler said.

Board members described conflicting legal advice and the difficulty of drafting a policy that avoids running afoul of federal Title IX and state human-rights protections. Chair Alicia said the board had invited two attorneys into an executive session for guidance and that counsel described an "impossible situation" because laws may point in different directions.

Libby, a board member who moved to postpone any changes until after the November election, argued the board should not rush. "With the evidence that we have heard now and all of the commentary we've heard from the community," Libby said, "we are not going to make changes to any transgender policies until after the November election." The motion to delay until November failed on a board vote.

Jason, a different board member, then moved to postpone final action while giving the policy committee time to review materials and produce a clearer draft. After discussion about policy-committee meeting schedules, the board amended Jason's motion to set June 3 as the target date for bringing a drafted policy back to the full board; the amended motion passed (tally not specified in the transcript).

Administrators and athletic directors who spoke to the board said the district currently uses single-use restrooms and private changing areas when needed and reported no systemic problems in Winthrop schools. Joel Stoneton, identified in the meeting packet as one of two athletic directors, told the board the district has had no transgender students participating in athletics in the last 12 years and stressed the need for precise policy language that aligns with Maine Principals Association rules.

The board left the existing policy in place while directing the policy committee and administrators to draft language that can be considered on June 3. The transcript records repeated requests from speakers that the district follow existing policy-adoption procedures and legal counsel before making binding changes.