Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 • LHS board discusses transgender policy 

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017, edition of the Lassen County Times.

The Lassen High School transgender accommodation policy vote for approval or disapproval has been pushed back to the next regular meeting in order for some more questions to be answered.

During the Tuesday, Oct. 10, Lassen Union High School Board of Trustees meeting, the policy and coordinating documents, were tabled — the main concern being that those with opposite anatomy could be in a locker room at the same as others if transgender students choose to use the facilities with which they identify.

“I still have huge heartache over the fact that there is a possibility we would have to accommodate a student of the opposite sex being in front of students in the locker room,” said board member Michelle Zubillaga. “I know we’re trying to set up privacy places, but as a parent of both sons and daughters, I would not be comfortable with that at all.”

She mentioned her concern with conflicting statements in the suggested policy.

“I have no problem with a transgender student using a restroom or locker room of the gender they identify with, as long as there are perimeters set up in that those students, who are not transgender, are not exposed to the body of the student that is of the opposite sex,” said Zubillaga.

According to Assembly Bill 1266 to the amended Education Code 221.5, “A pupil shall be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.”

The suggested policy, which was drafted through regular meetings throughout the span of a year, includes accommodation plan guidelines, where both transgender and cis-gender students can request accommodations should they feel uncomfortable.

According to trustee Ken Theobald, as part of the suggested policy, all students could come forward and ask for accommodations for privacy and comfort.

Lassen Union High School District superintendent Bill McCabe noted a change the school deployed last year in order to accommodate students, where two changing times were offered for students in P.E.

There was also discussion amongst board members on how the transgender accommodation plan committee worked to appease both sides of the issue while remaining compliant with state law.

“All it’s saying is that the district will comply with education code regarding student access to programs and facilities with respect to a student’s gender identify,” said Margie Teeter earlier in the same meeting of the suggested policy. “That’s all we’re saying. We will comply with education code, and if we can’t vote for that, then why are we on the board?”

The matter was tabled to the next regular trustee meeting, and school staff requested a list of questions the board wanted answered by legal counsel be submitted.