Residents urge separating sports and locker rooms as board reviews ACAE policy

Public commenters at a Jefferson Public Schools board meeting on June 9 urged the board to adopt a proposed policy, ACAE, that would separate sports teams, locker rooms and related facilities by biological sex.

The most detailed speaker, identified in the record as Ezra, told the board he supported the idea and asked that parents be involved in how the issue is taught. "I believe that I support it. I think that it's it's safe to separate sports and teams and facilities by biological gender," he said during the public-comment period.

Other residents echoed safety and fairness concerns. One speaker said the issue "is just simple, simple safety issues" and pointed to international competition as an example of athletic advantage, while another said schools should offer a girl's choice, a boy's choice and a coed choice so families have options.

Why it matters: the ACAE proposal, discussed by community members during public comment, touches on student participation, privacy in locker rooms and how districts balance inclusion and competitive fairness. The speakers asked that the board formally consider the policy in full committee and that parents be included in any curricular or policy changes that touch on student identity and instruction.

Board response and next steps: the chair (speaker 2) noted the policy had been on the agenda as a first read later in the meeting and that the board would continue consideration under the policy section. No formal board action on ACAE was taken during the meeting; public commenters’ assertions and requests therefore remain a matter for future deliberation.

The meeting record shows no staff or board rebuttal to the assertions made in public comment. The board has scheduled further policy discussion and proposed a workshop with teachers and planning-team members to gather staff feedback before advancing any policy changes.