Othello school officials clarify transgender policy

OTHELLO — Communication with the parents of transgender students in the Othello School District, and how that will happen, was the subject of a short discussion at the Oct. 26 meeting of the Othello School Board.

Board members approved a policy on transgender students at the Oct. 12 meeting, and part of that policy was communicating with parents. District superintendent Chris Hurst provided what he called clarification of the communication policy.

Under the policy students who say they are transgender must be consulted before school officials talk to their parents about the student's gender identity. Hurst said that while school officials must talk with the student, it doesn’t mean officials must comply with the student’s wishes. District officials still have the right to talk with parents, Hurst said.

The idea is to make sure students don’t walk into an unsafe situation when they go home, Hurst said.

Board member Jenn Stevenson asked about a provision for name changes in the transgender policy at the Oct. 12 meeting. Stevenson said in her opinion the policy was unclear about what qualified as a name change.

Hurst said Oct. 26 that he had talked with the district’s attorney, and that students will have the right to change their name under the policy. But they must have documentation that it’s been an official change, Hurst said. And any name used must be appropriate, he added.