Decatur superintendent: LGBTQ laws address 'a problem that never existed'

Apr. 21—Local school administrators anticipate no significant problems in complying with two recently passed state laws regulating how schools deal with LGBTQ issues, and Decatur Superintendent Michael Douglas speculated that the laws are a political solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bills into law earlier this month.

One of the laws requires the staff of public and private schools to inform a child's parents of "information related to a minor's perception that his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with his or her sex." It also prohibits staff from encouraging the student to withhold such information from the student's parent. The law takes effect May 8 and requires that the State Board of Education implement rules to enforce the mandates.

The other law mandates that public K-12 schools "require every multiple occupancy restroom or changing area designated for student use to be used by individuals based on their biological sex." It would apply to bathrooms and locker rooms.

This law also prohibits public schools from having discussion or instruction in K-5 classrooms "regarding sexual orientation or gender identity in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."

At least at Decatur City Schools, Douglas said, the laws address non-issues.

Douglas said his schools already have additional restrooms for students to use if they choose not to use bathrooms designated for boys or girls.

"We haven't had a big issue with that," Douglas said. "Generally we have separate bathrooms that are multi-gender, so we were already accommodating those students either way."

Douglas said the LGBTQ legislation on classroom discussion and instruction is reminiscent of the ban on critical race theory instruction that the state school board instituted in August. He said his district never taught the theory to begin with.

"It's almost identical. I mean, how do you address something that you've never done and that's never been a problem?" Douglas said. "Are we passing legislation for political reasons? We've never dealt with it and it's almost like we're addressing a problem that never existed."

State school board director of communications Michael Sibley agreed that the state board's resolution on critical race theory and the recent LGBTQ legislation are similar, and that neither affects the curriculum being taught in Alabama schools.

"It's essentially the same thing and we don't think that this particular law will have any impact on our day-to-day business as we go about trying to educate the students of Alabama," Sibley said.

Douglas believes lawmakers drafted the legislation with intentions that have little to do with providing guidance for school systems. — Morgan County Schools

Morgan County Board of Education Vice Chairman John Holley, however, welcomed the guidance provided by the laws.

He said his district's schools do not have gender-neutral restrooms but accommodating LGBTQ students has never been an issue.

"You know, I can see where a problem would be on the horizon but I don't know where we've had a problem in the past," Holley said. "The way that society has gone and especially on a national level with the way things have changed, I can see where we probably need to be a little bit more proactive on that."

Holley said that even though they have never discussed LGBTQ or gender identity topics in the classroom, he is glad the state Legislature passed the laws.

"My opinion is I really support the intent of the legislation," Holley said. "I really look at (the laws) as a veil of protection for our schools and our school staff ... so we can know what we can and can't do. It's now spelled out instead of waiting until a situation comes up where we end up in litigation." — Hartselle schools

Hartselle Superintendent DeeDee Jones said she will "follow the law" regardless of what it says.

"We are going to have professional development this summer and we will instruct our teachers on how to deal with those types of issues," Jones said.

— wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.