Catching up with the law and best practices for educating our students one issue at a time
There has been a general reservation in some parts of society to clarify several sensitive issues. This summer the District addressed the policy banning cellphone usage at school, and brought back dress codes. Now our Ozark School District taking a stand by clearly defining the expectations for how to distinguish between the two sexes: sports participation, facilities usage, and overnight lodging will be determined according to the student’s physical sex.
In the summer of 2024, the previous federal administration tried to allow boys and girls to choose facilities, sports, and other accommodations based on their feelings of psychological gender. Federal judges (including the US Supreme Court) blocked those changes, sensibly reminding schools that the key criteria in U.S. law was physical sex, and a new federal administration clarified enforcement of those federal guidelines. Two years ago, the Missouri State Legislature defined sports participation based on physical sex as recorded on the original birth certificate, and this summer the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of school districts directing that facilities’ usage is differentiated by physical sex as well. I am so pleased that our school district has published these clarifications so there is no confusion for students – or for the employees who are helping the students know where to go – about the only determining factor in distinguishing between sexes.
The Springfield NewsLeader shared the story today, too:
https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2025/09/29/ozark-school-board-clarifies-rules-about-gender-specific-bathrooms/86352977007/
As always, I speak only for myself and do not intend to represent the Board to you in anything I say or post.
I do, however, intend to do my job representing YOU to the Board!!