As members of the Lakota Local Schools Board of Education, we feel it is important to respond to Mike Moroski’s opinion piece in the Dec. 13 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
At our Dec. 11 meeting, members of the Lakota Board of Education discussed proposed policy 5000, Gender Identity and Expression. After much discussion, the school board voted 3-2 against the policy. It is important to note that we, the board members voting against the policy, did so not because we are against a gender identity and expression policy, but because we believe the one proposed could be better written.
Moroski states that the “district voted to discriminate against transgender students.” No, we did not. Lakota Local Schools has current policies and administrative guidelines in place to help direct the district’s practices for protecting all students, including the transgender community, against bullying, harassment and discrimination.
Contrary to Moroski’s statement that we “chose to side with...bigotry and close-mindedness,” Lakota’s Board of Education and its administration strive to ensure that the learning environment provided to all students is safe, secure, supportive and free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and intimidation every day.
Lakota Local Schools was the first district in southwestern Ohio to introduce a gender identity and expression policy. While this particular one did not pass, we fully support our transgender students and will continue to provide accommodations, interventions, and services to support the educational, social and emotional needs of all students.
Benjamin Dibble is the president of the Lakota Local Schools Board of Education. Todd Parnell is the vice president, and Lynda O’Connor is a 10-year member of the board.