THE Cy-Foire ISD Board of Directors approved a new policy November 11 requires students to use the restrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their biological sex identified on their birth certificate.

The motion was approved by a vote of 5-1, with Trustee Julie Hinaman opposed and Board President Scott Henry absent from the meeting.

How we got here

Administrators said the conversation about establishing this policy began during a Sept. 23 policy review. subcommitteecomposed of directors Todd LeCompte, Lucas Scanlon and Henry. These meetings are not open to the public.

At the board’s Nov. 7 work session, school trustee Natalie Blasingame said parents expressed concerns to her about whether “students were being protected,” primarily from fathers regarding their daughters .

Hinaman said no official complaints regarding the use of toilets have been filed in the district.

“To my knowledge – and I have confirmed this with administration – no complaints or concerns have been expressed to administration or the board regarding the use of the restrooms,” Hinaman said on November 7. “If there had been, this council would have been informed. , and it probably would have been on the evening TV news.

Current situation

Hinaman said the district administration did not recommend the creation of this new policy; officials recommended processing individual requests through existing Title IX policies. CFISD General Counsel Marney Collins Sims said that typically involves giving students access to single-use restrooms upon request.

“Generally speaking, it is the rule and expectation on a campus that students use restrooms and locker rooms based on their gender,” Sims said Nov. 7. “If you have a student who requests an exception to this, then we – on a case-by-case basis – work with the student and the parent and create a Title IX accommodation plan.

President Joe Biden’s administration expanded earlier this year Title IX— the federal nondiscrimination law dating from the 1970s — to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy in federally funded middle and elementary and secondary schools, Impact on the community previously reported. Attorney General Ken Paxton in June blocked the implementation of these expanded rules.

CFISD’s new policy specifies that campuses will maintain separate restrooms and locker rooms for boys and girls “to the extent permitted by state and federal law.”

Sims said Spring Branch ISD is the only other district in the area with a policy focused on restroom use. Katy ISD has a broader gender policy that includes a similar statement regarding bathrooms and changing rooms.

What they say

LeCompte said formalizing the policy would provide “clarity and direction,” while other administrators said it was a safety issue.

“I am for protecting students every chance we get, regardless of their background and where they come from, and I want us to protect our students,” said school trustee Christine Kalmbach.

CFISD parent Tara Cummings said she thought the policy was unnecessary and communicated “that our trans students are somehow dangerous and don’t belong.”

Hinaman said she has other priorities when it comes to student safety.

“I absolutely care about the safety of our students,” Hinaman said. “There are real safety issues to address, including bullying, vaping, drug use, student behavior, and mental health issues among students and staff. If we truly care about the safety of our students, these issues must be addressed first.