Stillwater school board discusses bathroom policy after letter from Oklahoma State Secretary of Education

STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR) – The Stillwater Board of Training mentioned their lavatory police Monday night amid rising controversy over it.

The coverage, that they’ve had since 2015, permits transgender college students to make use of the lavatory that aligns with their gender identification.

The district is now looking for steerage from the Oklahoma State Division of Training and Board of Training after two letters have been despatched to the administration final week concerning the coverage.

The Stillwater college board informed KFOR Monday they’re hoping for “…formal, binding directives regarding this matter” from the division. They added that they’ve “…acquired conflicting info from the state.”

“It must be every colleges, every district’s resolution bearing in mind how dad and mom really feel and the final consensus of the dad and mom,” mentioned Eva Turner, a Stillwater Public Faculties graduate with children who’ve been in, and grandkids who’re at present within the district.

The district added that they’ve acquired steerage from the state division of training “in help of permitting college students to make use of restrooms that align with their gender identification…”

Nevertheless, they mentioned they’ve acquired conflicting opinion from State Secretary of Training Ryan Walters.

He despatched a letter to the district earlier this month urging them to finish their coverage.

“I really feel like alienating anyone baby for any purpose is totally in opposition to something that I’ve ever stood for, imagine in,” mentioned Cyle Briggs ,a father with children within the district.

One other letter was despatched from State Legal professional Normal John O’Connor:

Nevertheless, some dad and mom we spoke with, who’ve children and grandkids within the district, understanding considerations, however nonetheless on the alternative finish of that spectrum.

“There’s personal restrooms on the facility, , there,” Briggs mentioned. “So, if any individual is uncomfortable with one thing, they’re all the time greater than welcome to make use of that.”

“You do should be accommodate and respectful of all people,” Turner mentioned.

The district informed KFOR there may be at the very least one gender impartial lavatory in each Stillwater college.

Information 4 reached out to the State Division of Training. Nevertheless, we didn’t hear again.