York County educators seek guidance on transgender restrooms

Education leaders in York County on Friday were waiting for guidance on a federal directive that schools should allow transgender students to use restrooms that match their gender identities.

The Obama administration, wading further into a national debate, said it gave the directive Friday morning in a letter to all U.S. public school districts.

Fort Mill schools Superintendent Chuck Epps said district schools will continue the current practice of working with students who have identified themselves as transgender and their parents on an individual basis.

Epps, who said Fort Mill’s two high schools have “a few” students who have identified themselves as transgender, said he has been told the school district’s current practice is legal.

He said transgender students may choose to use an alternate restroom, such as a nurse’s restroom or a faculty restroom, as long as non-transgender students have the same option.

Epps said he understands that high school students in Fort Mill who have identified themselves as transgender “are choosing to use the alternative bathroom.”

Epps said educators would not know if any of the students are transgender unless the students or their parents have informed the school district.

The letter, signed by federal justice and education department officials, tells school administrators they should ensure that all students, including those who are transgender, can attend school in an environment free from discrimination based on sex.

“A school may not require transgender students to use facilities inconsistent with their gender identity or to use individual-user facilities when other students are not required to do so,” the letter says.

The letter does not mandate any actions. It is considered guidance, though schools that do not abide could face a loss of federal aid, according to federal officials.

Mychal Frost, a spokesman for the Rock Hill school district, said Rock Hill leaders have not received the letter “and are not able to provide comment as to its instruction.”

“We do anticipate receiving the letter, and guidance from the S.C. Department of Education, at which time we would take appropriate action,” Frost said in an email statement.

Frost said the Rock Hill district does not have a policy specific to transgender students “and situations at this time are addressed on a case-by-case basis.”

York schools Superintendent Vernon Prosser said he also is waiting for guidance on the matter from the state or federal levels. Prosser said he was not aware whether York schools have any students who have identified themselves as transgender.

“Right now, we are going to continue to do what we’ve been doing, which is working with students and parents on an individual basis,” he said.

He said federal mandates typically come with stringent guidelines.

“That is what I would like to see,” Prosser said, “and from there you can make better decisions.”

Clover Superintendent Marc Sosne could not reached Friday for comment.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 5:56 PM with the headline "York County educators seek guidance on transgender restrooms."