WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: Gender policy revision put on hold

Rachel Rosen reports from the Oak Harbor School District’s board meeting of Mon., Aug. 29, 2022:

The Oak Harbor School Board has decided to table a gender policy revision that would allow counselors to tell parents that their child is transgender, even if the student does not want them to.

The current policy states that school counselors must honor students’ wishes regarding family involvement in matters of gender identity and expression.

…The Oak Harbor School Board has put together a frequently asked questions guide in regards to the policy on the district’s webpage, which can be found at ohsd.net/Page/9716.

They Said It

“It was important for us to table this and keep the current policy until we can have a better understanding of how this affects our students and the best way to move forward,” school board President Jessica Aws said at Tuesday’s meeting. [Ed. Note: the meeting was held on Mon., Aug. 29.]

She said the policy revision was recommended by the Washing State School Directors Association. She clarified that the proposed revision states that counselors would take safety concerns into account, in addition to consulting with students regarding family involvement before contacting a student’s family.

“The proposed policy changes do not state that counselors will proactively inform parents or guardians of their student’s gender preference without student consent,” Aws said. “It also does not change the student’s right to privacy and confidentiality under current Washington state laws.”