LA CENTER — More than 100 people attended the La Center school board meeting Tuesday, an unusually large crowd for the small school district that has recently made national headlines for its policy on pronouns.
Twenty-eight people spoke to the board about the district’s gender-inclusive schools policy, which state officials say doesn’t meet guidelines. Among those in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting included members of Clark County Pride.
The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction launched an investigation April 7, 2023, into a complaint from La Center High School teacher Minna Thayer, according to a Feb. 26 letter from the agency to Peter Rosenkranz, La Center’s superintendent. The agency also opened an inquiry into the district’s gender-inclusive schools policy, and determined that the district’s approach does not comply with state nondiscrimination laws or the agency’s rules and guidelines.
“While we respect and acknowledge the range of perspectives being shared, it is important to clarify that the intent of this policy is to support all students — regardless of how they identify,” Rosenkranz wrote in his April report to the school board. “We firmly believe that a student’s well-being is best supported through open, respectful collaboration between schools and families.”
After reviewing Rosenkranz’s 2022 pronoun directive (staff should only ask students for their preferred names, not their pronouns), OSPI concluded that the district’s pronoun directive is discriminatory.
La Center filed an appeal of the state’s findings March 20 to the Washington Office of Administrative Hearings.
The appeal states that if the Washington Office of Administrative Hearings rules against La Center, the school district shouldn’t have to adopt OSPI’s model policy — which calls for asking transgender or gender-expansive students their preference on how to be addressed before talking to their parents or guardians — without “a process involving parents and respecting their constitutional rights.”
Students can request a meeting with their principal and administration “in reference to a student’s change of gender expression or identity” before their parents or guardians are contacted, Rosenkranz wrote in his report.
Several who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting voiced concerns about the taxpayer money going toward a political fight against the state, but others praised the school district.
“I paid taxes in this district for 38 years, and I want you to know I support you using every cent of those taxes to defend the overreach by a small group of employees and out-of-district citizens who have their own agenda — both of which I know aren’t supported by the entire staff or certainly our community,” La Center resident Dave Holmes said.
About half of the speakers objected to La Center’s pronoun directive.
“If the board feels it’s necessary to inform parents about a personal situation that a child is navigating, it is vital to include the student in crafting a compassionate and thoughtful approach to minimize potential harm,” said Lori Cole of Vancouver, a former college instructor. “Above all, our priority as educators must remain to be the safety and well-being of our children.”
The U.S. Department of Education launched its own investigation into OSPI, alleging the agency is violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (which allows parents to access their children’s education records), Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (which applies to programs and activities of a state educational agency federally funded) and Title IX (which prohibits discrimination of sex in federally funded education programs and activities).
Justine Stimmel, a mother of three La Center students, described feeling disturbed about her children’s teachers asking their pronouns.
“Every request for names and pronouns has been honored,” Stimmel said. “The only ask is that teachers not collect pronouns publicly in class, a private matter that belongs with families. That’s not discrimination, it’s common sense.”
John Bower, an Evergreen Public Schools educator, shared two students’ experiences. He said one male student started wearing feminine clothing to school. When his parents found out, they kicked him out of the house.
Another of Bower’s students only shares her preferred name with trusted friends and teachers “because she knows that one wrong phone call, one wrong text message, one wrong email sharing that information could end her fragile peace at home.”
Rosenkranz wrote in the superintendent’s report that the district aims “to strike a thoughtful balance — one that upholds the rights of families while ensuring all students feel seen, supported, and safe in our schools.”
