Despite House Bill 2, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district (CMS) had every intent of moving forward with plans to implement a transgender facilities policy, however all of that has been put on hold.
CMS Superintendent Ann Clark made a statement on halting the policy, citing the recent Supreme Court ruling striking down a 4th Circuit’s order forcing a school district to create an open bathroom policy.
Via WCNC news:
“CMS remains committed to nurturing a safe and welcoming learning environment for every student. As a result of yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, we have placed a temporary hold on the section of the CMS bullying prevention regulation which states that transgender students will be given access to the restroom and locker room facilities corresponding to their gender identity. The rest of the regulation, which is intended to promote consistency in anti-bullying support for all students, will remain intact. CMS will respect the Supreme Court’s decision just as we did that of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.”
Representative and Executive Director of Equality NC, Chris Sgro, wasted no time issuing a response statement:
Yesterday, an ethics complaint was filed against Sgro alleging his role as a legislator and that of an organization fundraising against and suing the state in a fight over House Bill 2 is a conflict of interest.
CMS Superintendent Ann Clark had unveiled the plan to allow transgender facilities access only after the current school year ended, leaving parents with no recourse and no voice. CMS is the second largest in the state, behind Wake county, with over 146,000 students.
According to WBTV’s report at the time, Senator Phil Berger blasted Clark, saying the move was an “Outrageous plan to break the law.”
In his statement included in the WBTV report, Governor McCrory also called out the plan as a violation of state law:
“Instead of providing reasonable accommodations for some students facing unique circumstances, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System made a radical change to their shower, locker room and restroom policy for all students. This curiously-timed announcement that changes the basic expectations of privacy for students comes just after school let out and defies transparency, especially for parents. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System should have waited for the courts to make a decision instead of purposely breaking state law.”
NC Values Coalition sent out an email this past week, addressing this proposed plan in an effort to raise awareness prior to the start of the rapidly approaching 2016-17 school year.
NC Values Coalition stated they had received a copy of the proposed plan and laid out some of the highlights:
1. Parental involvement dependent on student’s permission: “Involvement of parents in the plan is determined in working with the student, considering the student’s age and health, wellbeing and safety concerns” (pg. 34).
2. Students can choose their bathrooms and changing facilities: “Students must have access to the restroom/changing facilities that correspond to their gender identity” (pg. 42).
3. CMS will remove some gender-based activities: “CMS will evaluate all gender-based activities; maintain only those that have clear and sound pedagogical purpose” (pg. 46).
4. Students can choose their gender-based activities (intramural sports, dress codes, classes, ceremonies, photos, extracurricular activities, etc). This includes choosing which gender they participate with during overnight field trips: “Students are permitted to participate in gender-based activities consistent with their gender identity.” (pg. 46).
5. Students shall not be referred to as “boys and girls” in classrooms, but “scholars” or “students.” : “Avoid gender specific classroom management techniques” (pg. 46).
The email from NC Values coalition included a letter for parents to sign and suggested also printing the letter out to mail it to their local school.
The plan was accompanied by a “Gender Unicorn, from a website called ‘Trans Student Educational Resources‘ or TSER for short:
TSER is a 501(c)3 organization that has only been tax exempt since 2014. According to the TSER website, the organization has apparently aligned itself with Blacks Live Matter.
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