EPISD opposes bathroom bill, sends letter to state lawmakers
The Board of Trustees for the The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday to send a letter to state lawmakers outlining the district’s opposition to the so-called Bathroom Bill being considered by Republican lawmakers.
The letter from EPISD is addressed to Texas Speaker of the House Joe Strauss and the members of the El Paso County Delegation to the Texas Legislature.
In a news release, the district said the bill could restrict access to bathrooms and other facilities for transgender students who seek to use restrooms that best suit their needs.
“If approved, the law would impact the way school districts manage facility access for transgendered students,” the district said, “EPISD has a long history of being a District of inclusion and a safe space for all children.”
“The Bathroom Bill being discussed in the Legislature is harmful for children and addresses a problem school districts do not have,” said Superintendent Juan Cabrera. “Our students are safer, not because we restrict their access, but rather, because we create opportunities for learning and understanding.”
Officials said the district’s policies prohibit discrimination and harassment of any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, age and gender.
The District wants legislators to allow local schools, and not the state, to come up with ways to handle bathroom access for transgendered individuals.
The District said it works transgender students on a case-by-case basis to come up with accommodations.
