STAFFORD – Last night, the Stafford County School Board reversed a decision that allowed a transgender student at Hartwood Elementary School to use bathroom facilities consistent with their gender identity. Prior to the 6-0 vote, the School Board in a closed door session, consulted with legal counsel. The student must now use a single-stall restroom, staff bathroom or the restroom of the student’s biological gender.
A vote to reverse the original decision was sparked when residents began to speak out against letting the student use either bathroom. Prior to the vote, the board chamber was filled, standing room only, with area residents…some speaking against the issue and some speaking for the issue, including the a man who said he was the father of the student. Those speaking against the original issue warned that they would remove their child from the school system if nothing was changed.
The School Board is hoping to get some further direction from Virginia legislators or from the Virginia School Board Association.