Perkiomen Valley School Board votes to retire Policy 720 on bathroom/locker-room access

Perkiomen Valley School Board voted 7–2 Tuesday night to retire Policy 720, the district rule governing student access to bathrooms and locker rooms, and directed its policy committee to develop revised policy language.

The decision followed more than an hour of public comment and lengthy board debate. Terry Mulville, identified as a registered speaker from College Roborough, opened public testimony by urging the board “to go ahead and vote to remove the current policy,” saying students had been harmed after earlier public testimony. Community speakers alternated between urging removal — citing student bullying and academic loss — and urging retention — citing safety, privacy and legal risks.

Board discussion focused on competing legal and practical concerns. Several board members and the district solicitor referenced Doe v. Boyertown and Third Circuit guidance on Title IX when weighing legal exposure. Board member Mister Liggett summarized the legal argument for change, saying the Third Circuit’s Doe v. Boyertown decision “guides our district” and cautioned that forcing single‑use or birth‑sex‑aligned facilities could itself be discriminatory. The district solicitor confirmed parts of the law remain unsettled and advised the board on current legal contours.

Administrators had prepared an administrative regulation (AR) to guide staff if 720 were retired. The AR text shown to the board would permit students “within the protected class” to use restrooms corresponding to their gender identity, while proposing privacy accommodations in locker rooms (single‑stall options, separated areas, or alternate changing schedules) for any student who requests increased privacy. Several board members questioned whether keeping parts of an AR while retiring 720 created inconsistent or partial accommodations.

Speakers on both sides of the issue cited concrete details. Donna Rudolph said a petition in support of Policy 720 contained about 1,222 signatures. Community commenters raised a range of other claims and fears, including references to Title IX, the risk of lawsuits, and sharply divergent views about student mental‑health and safety. Several student representatives and a student liaison asked the board to consider how to solicit student input safely; a student speaker warned that surveys can expose students’ identities and that many students feel intimidated from speaking publicly.

After the debate, the board called a roll‑call vote. Voting yes to retire Policy 720 were Doctor Camply, Mister Leggett, Mister McKinney, Missus Sadler, Mister Sailor, Doctor Weston and Miss White. Doc Fountain and Mister Keenan voted no. The motion passed.

The board’s motion also directed the policy committee to draft revised policy language and indicated further work on administrative regulations and complaint processes will follow. Board members and speakers repeatedly urged civility and continued dialogue as the district prepares next steps.

What’s next: the policy committee will draft revised language and the administration will publish the AR the board discussed; the board did not adopt a replacement policy the same night and signaled additional meetings and policy work ahead.