Oshkosh School Board approves new Title IX policy for most schools

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WBAY) - The Oshkosh School Board voted on Wednesday night to approve the proposed policy changes to Title IX.

This comes after several listening sessions with the community, and discussions about what the changes would mean for the district.

The district moved the meeting to Oshkosh West’s Alberta Kimball Auditorium in preparation for the expected heavy turnout for the vote on updated Title IX regulations.

The 5-2 vote approves the updated Title IX policy. However, five schools in the district will not follow the updated policies as part of an injunction to court rulings that are taking place in Kansas.

The district allowed for one hour of public comment on the subject of Title IX, split into two 30-minute halves for those in support of the new regulations and those against it. The public used the entire allotted time to discuss the regulations.

Supporters argued the updated Title IX policy would help protect students in the LGBTQ+ community, while those who were against the regulations argued the changes would affect student safety.

“My heart goes out tonight to every trans person and every LGBTQ+ person who has had to listen to our elected leaders discussing and eventually voting on whether or not they are equal persons worthy of equal protections. They are worthy, this isn’t even a question,” said TJ Hobbs.

“If I were to walk into a male locker room, and I were to see a woman getting changed, I would not feel comfortable with that. I would find that deeply immoral, regardless of what they think. Now this is not me hating this person, of course not, I don’t want that. I just simply want to protect not only myself but their reputation,” said Reagan Longsine.

Oshkosh’s superintendent, Bryan Davis, says that the approval is still contingent on federal court rulings on the discussed policies, and the school district will be keeping an eye on how those cases are ruled.