Yesterday we brought you the story about a Coeur d’Alene High School student who had an incident where a male used the female bathroom, and the front office tried remedying the situation by telling the girl to use another bathroom instead of removing the male.
Today brings the interview of that student and her mother who were not only told that the school could not remove the male from the female’s bathroom, but the administration’s hands were tied because it was a federal Title IX issue.
Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. In 2021, Joe Biden signed an executive order to include sexual orientation or gender identity within the Title IX law.
The student’s mother, Monika, had multiple conversations with the assistant superintendent, Trent Derrick, who reiterated that they have to let anyone who identifies as the opposite gender to use the bathroom of their gender choice, no matter if they look and act like their biological gender.
Derrick also mentioned, according to Monika, that their hands are tied unless the school board puts in place a policy that specifically deals with these incidents, and until then the school district will continue to use the non-public gender guidelines – not policy – set in place back in 2014.
What Can You Do to Help?
There are multiple ways you can help but the most important thing you can do is to spread awareness. Send this to your friends and family throughout the county to show what is happening in the CDA School District. Like Monika said in the interview, she had no idea this was happening in the Coeur d’Alene schools until this situation affected her own daughter. Chances are most other parents also have no idea this is happening so share this with them and have them pass it along.
You can also make public comment at Monday’s CDA School Board meeting. The meeting will begin at 5:00pm at the Midtown Meeting Center so get there early and sign up for public comment. Note that you may only get 2 minutes so make sure you tailor your comment to the important parts. Also, I know it’s tempting to leave after public comment and there’s a huge agenda , but I recommend staying to the end of the meeting to understand what’s happening in the district. If you can’t make the meeting and still want to make public comment, email the trustees at trustees@cdaschools.org before Monday.
Sign the petition to adopt a resolution supporting policy to maintain separate biological boys and biological girls bathrooms. There is a bill in the Idaho Legislature, SB1100, that will establish this policy for public schools throughout the state. It has recently passed in the Senate and now it’s working its way through the House. Sign the petition to show your support for this bill and to support our school district creating similar policy that can be implemented immediately.
Lastly, vote today or Tuesday, March 14, in the levy election. Don’t forget that the CDA School District is asking for you to pass a FOREVER levy for $25 million per year FOREVER. Plus a second levy worth $5 million per year for 5 years. You need to decide if this school district is worth that price.
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