Proposed policies to keep trans students safe in Cañon City spark backlash from some parents

CAŃON CITY, Colo.(KRDO) -- The Cañon City Schools Fremont RE-1 Board of Education has decided to table proposed policies meant to create a safe environment for transgender students. This decision came after pushback from some parents.

Tuesday, Superintendent Adam Hartmen told KRDO the proposed policy was created to make all students, regardless of gender identity, feel comfortable at school.

"The policy design is around making sure that every student feels warm welcome and safe at school," explained Hartmen. "It gets complicated when other folks begin to feel like perhaps 'this policy doesn't help my child to feel warm welcome and safe at school.' So, it's complicated."

KRDO received a copy of the proposed transgender policy. The policy begins by stating that it would cover conduct that takes place in the school, on school property, at school-sponsored functions and activities, on school buses or vehicles, during a student's commute, and at bus stops. It would also apply to "electronic communication" happening at the listed places.

The policy would apply to the entire school community, including educators, school and district staff, students, parents, guardians, and volunteers.

The policy is broken down into the following sections:

• Supportive Measures at School
• Privacy/Confidentiality
• Gender-Segregated Activities and Facilities
• Physical Education Classes and Intramural and Interscholastic Athletics
• Overnight Activity, Athletic Trips, and Visiting Schools
• Dress Code/JICA
• Media and Community Communication
• Training Implications

Hartmen said some transgender students in the district get bullied because of their gender identity. He said the bullying can lead to mental health issues, like depression. After counselors and other leaders on school campuses raised concerns, he said that's what led to the creation of the proposed policy.

The district, however, decided to table the discussion surrounding the policy indefinitely on July 25, 2022. Despite that decision, community members spoke out with concerns surrounding the policy during Monday night's school board meeting.

One parent claimed the policy would "expose" her child to "issues" she felt her child wasn't mature enough for. She went on to say while she understands the population this policy is written for struggles to feel accepted, she questioned how her child's "feelings, emotions, and psychological state" are being taken into consideration under the "progressive policy."

One speaker brought up concerns surrounding sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms.

Another parent accused the board of being secretive and accusing the policy of possibly stemming from grants. This parent went on to call for conservatives to be elected to the school board.

Tuesday, KRDO spoke with a parent and founding member of "Protect Our Kids- Fremont County," a group that claims it's for community members who are "concerned" with the direction the district is moving.

The front page of the organization's web page says the following:

Radical progressive ideology is permeating our schools' policies and curricula at an alarming rate. Thankfully, there are alternatives for providing an excellent education for our kids, apart from the state sponsored public school system! We also feel that additional steps are necessary to reclaim our school district, namely a recall of the school board and a class action lawsuit.

Protect Our Kids - Fremont County website

Walking said, on behalf of the group, that there are three major concerns he and others have about the policy draft. The first is the possibility of trans girls joining female sports. He said they feel like it's unfair to women.

The second concern is that parents won't always be notified if their child identifies as transgender. This is regarding a section under "Supportive Measures at School." Under that part, the policy states "the school is aware that in some cases, notifying parents(s)/guardians carries risks for the student and potential for mental health challenges."

The policy, however, does not explicity state what the school/district would do in those instances.

The final concern Walking brought up regarding bathrooms and locker rooms. He believes that "biological males" and females should not share those spaces.

Regarding facilities, the proposal says:

• Schools should reduce or eliminate the practice of segregating students by gender
• Schools may maintain separate restrooms, locker rooms, or changing facilities for students, "provided that they allow all students equal access to facilities that are consistent with their gender identity. Students, including nonbinary students, should determine which facilities are consistent with their gender identity."

The policy also states that any student uncomfortable using a shared gender-segregated facility, regardless of gender, will be provided with a safe and non-stigmatizing alternative.

When asked about parent concerns, Hartmen said the district is just trying to make a safe environment for all students.

"I would just say that having some level of empathy and understanding that we're doing our best to try to make sense of something that we recognize is not black and white. So patience is one thing that I would request. And then in an open ear to hearing and learning, that's what we're demonstrating," said Hartmen

Hartmen said the school board has tabled the conversation indefinitely. Their next step is to put a work group together to include other voices and legal opinions. They are not sure when a new draft will be available.

To read the full policy, click here.

Watch Monday's school board meeting below: