Dear editor:

I would like to respond to Laurie Larsen’s letter and other comments regarding the PCSD1 Parents Group forum.

Our group stands by how we run our forum. There are occasional statements from both the public and the candidates that are later proven incorrect. We were made aware that a statement attributed to Principal Tim Wormald was false. We should have removed his individual name from the question and apologize for the oversight. We posted his statement to our FB page as soon as we learned of the problem and appreciate that he reached out to help clear up the confusion.

As for Ms. Larsen’s letter, she states that on many issues, “our local school board has no control.” There was nothing brought up on Oct. 9 that our local board does not ultimately have control over. Regarding the board meetings, the public is allowed to speak and comment on agenda items only, there is no “open time” to say or ask whatever you want. It is disgraceful for Ms. Larsen to say the concerns shared by parents are “made-up.” If she currently had kids in the system, she might know what is going on. 

I would like to address a specific issue from the forum, the lack of bathroom policy at PCSD1. Most of the statements made by the district in the Oct. 24 article on this topic are gross misrepresentations. Bathroom use outside of biological sex or a private restroom is happening at PHS, and the district knows it. There have been complaints, citing extreme discomfort and anxiety among other things, made to administration by both parents and students. The district has refused to provide analysis for their stance that “nothing has changed” in the legal landscape. I personally asked for their assessment as it was contrary to my own research and communications with legal professionals and others deeply involved in these cases. I was denied the information, the district cited “attorney-client privilege” and said I had no right to it.

Because PCSD1 won’t establish bathroom policy, there is nothing to prevent a 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pound man from entering the girls’ bathrooms (or vice versa with females in the boys’ restrooms). My husband and I first reached out to the district on this issue in 2022. We stated that the lack of policy creates a situation that could enable a predator and referenced the horrific 2021 incident in Loudoun County, Virginia. We were blunt in asserting that doing nothing could be really bad, especially for the girls. Girls not using the restroom all day long, tears at the dinner table, fear, anxiety, extremely uncomfortable encounters, being constantly on alert, driving home to use the restroom, anger, leaving for virtual school, dodging certain bathrooms, being brushed off by the district — all things I have been told directly from parents and girls about what they are now dealing with.

PCSD1 has not been proactive on this. In 2022, on a closely related matter, the district publicly refused to take a stance on the “Fairness in Women’s Sports” bill. After our meeting with them that same year, they promised to analyze the bathroom issue further with their attorney to examine preventative measures as either policy or administrative procedure. I followed up a couple months later to check on the progress and was told it would be a summer project with the goal of having solid answers or something in place by fall. To my knowledge, this was never done. PCSD1 was caught flat-footed this fall; they didn’t investigate the injunction in Kansas vs. U.S. Department of Education (Wyoming is a plaintiff) or Texas vs. Cardona prior to the first day of school. Engagement with legislators also did not originate with the district. After reading the continued rhetoric in the Tribune on this discussion, I felt the public should know there’s more to the story.

We have many amazing teachers, support staff, and coaches who truly care about the kids. We have nice buildings, and the students have many wonderful opportunities here in Powell, but I will not apologize for saying I’m uncomfortable and upset about this bathroom issue, and I will continue to fight it. When men have full access to my daughter’s bathroom, which is the current status at her school, Ms. Larsen, you are dead wrong, that absolutely is my business.

Respectfully,

Carrie I. Peters

Powell