Public concern dismissed
The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Handbook, Executive
Board
Policy 40, Gender Identity Participation, developed in
consultation with the Oregon Department of Education is in direct
conflict with Title IX.
OSAA Executive Board may have consulted with
ODE, but there is no public input at their meetings.
These rights conflict
with Title IX, a congressional act passed in 1972 to defend women’s
rights in educational institutions.
Now the Salem-Keizer Public Schools adopted a series of administrative
policies based on Policy 40 that may be coming to other school districts.
It focuses on transgender student rights. The policy addresses: 1) using
the bathroom/locker room of choosing; 2) playing on gendered sports
teams of their choosing; 3) All school libraries to have trans-affirming
literature; 4) Schools will provide students with and assist them in
providing detailed transition plans, and the unsupportive parents will
not be allowed to know; 5) The plan also describes how to respond to
staff that don’t use the right pronouns or support of the student’s
transition plan.
Salem-Keizer adopted the following administrative rules:
FAC-P022 Accessible Facilities for Students and Staff of all Genders
Scope: Students, staff, and district visitors shall be provided
access to gender-specific facilities at school consistent with their
gender identity. Access to private facilities based on privacy,
safety, or other concerns will also be made available to the extent
possible.
INS-A040 Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming Student
To change the outcome for our trans students, the District must
apply an equity lens to all relevant policies, programs, and
practices so that all trans students in our district are receiving the
same degree of comprehensive care and education of other
Salem-Keizer students.
INS-P038 Protecting Transgender Student Privacy
Scope: This procedure outlines the steps that district staff should
take in order to protect the privacy of a student when they wish
to affirm their identity at school as two-spirit, transgender,
nonbinary, or another gender nonconforming identity.
INS-P039 LGBTQ+ Affirming Education
Scope: This procedure outlines how district staff and teachers,
program associates, and administrators will create an inclusive
and encouraging environment for students of all genders and
sexualities.
">INS-P040 Accessible Athletics for Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender
Nonconforming Students
Scope: This procedure outlines how athletics will be accessible to
all students, including transgender, nonbinary, and gender
nonconforming students.
The school board is failing to recognize the biological physical
difference between male and female allowing physically developed
males to compete in female competitive sports.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
According to the new rules, every student who participates in OSAA (Oregon School Activities
Association) team athletics will be considered for eligibility on the
team that most aligns with their gender identity, regardless of whether the student has undergone any medical gender-affirming
treatment.
If a school wants to be competitive, over time female students will be
pushed out by a team of more muscular transgender athletes. Where is
the equity they so highly value?
The Salem-Keizer School Board references the OSAA Handbook,
Executive Board Policy 40. Larry Ramirez, Director of Salem-Keizer High
School Education, serves on the OSAA Board. The Salem-Keizer School
Board adopted these policies on February 15, 2022, but there appears
to be no agenda item or public comment recorded to verify that
parents knew these policies were being considered. Salem-Keizer
School Board has not responded.
--Donna BleilerPost Date: 2022-04-16 12:34:40 | Last Update: 2022-04-16 13:11:08 |