SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash – The Central Valley School District could join legal action against Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction over the policy regarding gender in sports and other recent changes.
Washington allows students to compete in sports based on the gender with which they identify. The policy has been in place since 2007, but has garnered controversy in recent years as the issue of gender and sports has played out on a local, state and national level.
Central Valley is one of several districts in the state, upset with the policy and/or how it was made.
The district is also upset with a recent policy change over student discipline.
OSPI updated its discipline rules in June; districts have said the state did not follow proper procedure in gathering input before changing the rules.
At its meeting Monday night, the board will consider a resolution, urging OSPI to “follow the legal rulemaking process before enforcing ad hoc ‘rules’ that impact school operations.”
The board will also vote on whether to send a letter of intent, saying it would join the Lynden School District and 15 others in legal action over Policy and Procedure 3211, which is the gender-inclusive schools policy.
The district estimates the legal action would cost $5,000-$10,000. That money would be paid for from funds already set aside for potential litigation and would not impact school programs.
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