COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The Board of Education for School District 49 (D49) is facing controversy following a recent discussion on a resolution that would formally recognize only two sexes and restrict gender ideologies within the district’s schools. The resolution, which has garnered both support and opposition, is now set to move to an executive session before the district’s April 10 board meeting.
The resolution proposes three key guidelines:
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Acknowledging only two sexes—male and female—within the district.
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Ensuring that school bathrooms and locker rooms remain segregated by sex, without any overlap.
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Preventing any overlap in male and female sports, thereby maintaining gender-segregated teams.
Board President Lori Thompson argued that these measures were necessary to safeguard the district’s federal funding. “We have a fiduciary obligation to pay attention to funding public education to the best of our ability,” Thompson stated. She explained that the district could face financial repercussions if it did not comply with federal regulations surrounding sex and gender in schools.
However, the resolution has faced strong opposition from some members of the board. Board treasurer Mike Heil called for the resolution to be discarded, criticizing the binary understanding of gender it espouses. Heil argued that the term “gender ideology” should not be used to enforce a binary model, which he claimed has been debunked by modern evidence and research.
In addition to board members, community members are deeply divided on the issue. Anna Parker, a local parent and the spouse of a D49 teacher, expressed skepticism about the resolution’s justification. Parker pointed out that the push for the resolution seemed to be driven by the Trump administration’s executive orders issued in January 2020, creating a sense of urgency and panic over potential changes in policy. “They could have thrown it out, which would have been, obviously, the most preferable,” she stated, suggesting that the resolution was an overreaction to political pressures rather than a necessary measure.
Despite the opposition, some community members voiced their support for the resolution. Madeleine Prendergast, a local resident, praised the proposal for reaffirming what she described as traditional values. “I think President Trump is saying what’s been normal, what’s been natural, since human beings existed,” Prendergast said, underscoring her belief in the importance of maintaining distinct gender roles in schools.
As the debate continues, the outcome of the executive session on April 10 could have significant implications for D49’s policies on gender, sex, and inclusivity. With strong opinions on both sides, it remains to be seen how the board will balance community concerns, federal regulations, and the evolving understanding of gender identity in the education system.
