Superintendents Address Transgender Bathrooms

EAST TEXAS — School superintendents in East Texas are reacting after the Obama Administration issued a directive Friday concerning school bathrooms. It said transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms that match their gender identity. “We believe that it’s something that is inappropriate for the federal government to be involved in, and we’re gonna run our schools the way Tyler wants us to,” Tyler ISD Superintendent Marty Crawford (pictured) told KETK. “We certainly do not need a directive from Washington or politicians from Austin telling us how to handle,” said Lindale ISD Superintendent Stan Surratt.

The letter comes after a superintendent in Fort Worth came under fire by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for trying to accommodate transgender students. Local superintendents said they don’t appreciate input from either politician. “It’s not what America’s based on. America’s based on a democracy where all input is gathered, and you make decisions based on what’s best interest of what everybody thinks,” said Bullard ISD Superintendent Todd Schneider.

Proponents said The Department of Justice has no legal teeth to enforce the measure. However, The DOJ is threatening to hold back federal money if districts are out of compliance. All three districts said they have not yet run into any transgender concerns. Tyler ISD said if any student has bathroom concerns, that student should see the nurse, and accommodations will be made. TISD officials also said they do have single stall restrooms.