NW Valley Times

The Peoria Unified School District rejected a request to direct the school system's administrative teams to draft a policy requiring students to use bathrooms and locker rooms associated with the biological sex they were born with.

"This policy definitely alienates a part of our student population, so this is something I wouldn’t be able to support," Board President David Sandoval said.

At the April 27 board meeting, members of the Peoria Unified School District faced an item on their agenda that asked for a vote on whether or not the school should create a policy to dictate which students are allowed in which locker rooms and bathrooms. The policy would create a rule the district does not currently have or enforce. Community members were allowed to comment on the item before it was discussed by the board.

Parents and students shared their opinions during the 30-minute comment period. Several students, some self-identified as transgender, urged the board to vote against the restrictive policy, as they felt it would create a hostile and anxiety-inducing environment for students, who would not feel safe in any school bathroom.

Parents asked the board members to consider the safety of their children in such private places, and they feared the potential of bullying, harassment and misuse of the lack of bathroom policy. Several expressed fears for their young daughters in unsupervised or monitored bathrooms. Parents asked the board to consider accommodations for transgender students, giving them a neutral or admin bathroom to use instead, affording an option for everyone to feel safe.

Board member Rebecca Hill requested the policy to be on the agenda for the evening, and she spoke about how important this policy is to her. She shared her fears for her daughter in high school.

“As leaders of this district, it is incumbent upon us to implement a policy that upholds common decency and respects the right to privacy that both our girls and boys are entitled to when using campus restrooms, locker rooms and any other private facilities,” she said.

Board Clerk Heather Rooks said she agreed with Hill’s sentiments.

The board has five members. Rooks and Hill voted in favor of drafting the policy for bathroom requirements, while members Sandoval, Melissa Ewing and William Sorensen voted against sending it to the administration, thus rejecting the policy and continuing to operate the district without any policies or rules on student use of bathrooms and locker rooms.