The La Center School District has appealed the state’s findings that the district discriminated against students and staff based on gender identity by prohibiting teachers from asking students which pronouns they prefer.
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 it determined that the district’s approach does not comply with state nondiscrimination laws or the agency’s rules and guidelines.
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 because “it negatively impacts gender-expansive students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the district’s educational programs or activities,” according to OSPI’s letter.
La Center filed an appeal March 20 to the Washington Office of Administrative Hearings.
“The La Center School District is committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive learning environment for all students and families, regardless of their identity,” Rosenkranz wrote in an email Monday.
The appeal states that OSPI’s view on La Center’s pronoun directive and parent involvement with transgender identifying students fails to meet the legislative intent of the Washington Administrative Procedures Act. It argues that OSPI’s findings should have gone through the process laid out in that act; the state’s investigation was inadequate to reach its findings, legal conclusions and corrective actions; and the district’s policy follows state law.
“We believe in working collaboratively with families to ensure that every child receives the support they need to thrive academically, socially and emotionally,” Rosenkranz said in an email. “By maintaining open communication and strong partnerships, we strive to create a school community where all students feel valued and have access to the resources and opportunities that support their success.”
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 — about asking transgender or gender-expansive students their preference on how to be addressed before talking to their parents or guardians — without amendments and a process for employees to address “transgender status student situations. This would include a process involving parents and respecting their constitutional rights.”
La Center also asks that any costs associated with the appeal and attorney fees be covered.
