A recent ruling from the Federal District Court in the 11th Circuit that allows transgender students the bathroom of their choosing is now being mulled over by Pickens High School.
As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported, the relatively conservative county has become divided since Pickens County Superintendent Carlton Wilson announced the topic.
According to Wilson, there are multiple transgender students currently enrolled at Pickens High School.
Destini Shope, Director of Communications Pickens County District said there is one student in particular who brought the issue up to administration.
"We currently have one transgender student that has requested to use the restroom which that student identifies with, and the administration has permitted that use," she said.
The Board has not developed policies on transgender students, but district officials will be holding a Town Hall workshop meeting to address the issue Monday, October 14 at 6 p.m. located at Pickens High School.
One aspect likely to be addressed during the meeting is the safety concerns of transgender students.
"Several parents have expressed concerns that this administrative permission will jeopardize the safety of the high school students," Shop said. "Safety of all students has been and will continue to be the District's number one concern. We have asked the staff to be more diligent in their duties to monitor bathrooms during class changes."
According to Georgia State Law and the Pickens County Board of Education, there are current policies in place that prohibit bullying and harassment of all students; these also apply whether a student is or is not transgender according to Shope.
"This was our practice before the community became aware of the transgender issue, and this will continue to be our practice now that this issue has come to the forefront," she said.
Wilson expects over 600 members of the public to attend the meeting.
