Bathroom use controversy draws crowd at Rochester School Committee
Luis Rivera speaks at the June 3 Rochester School Committee meeting. Photos by Grace Roche
People crowded the meeting, split between attendees who supported and questioned the school's response.
Luis Rivera speaks at the June 3 Rochester School Committee meeting. Photos by Grace Roche
People crowded the meeting, split between attendees who supported and questioned the school's response.
ROCHESTER — Parents and residents packed the Rochester School Committee’s Wednesday, June 3 meeting to discuss how the administration has handled complaints about a 9-year-old transgender student allegedly pushing into a classmate’s bathroom stall.
The crowd was split between those who supported the school and its handling of the incident, and those who questioned current policy and actions.
Luis Rivera, who reports his daughter’s privacy was invaded when another student opened the door on her while she used the bathroom, was among the evening’s large crowd.
He has filed a Title IX complaint against the school, claiming his daughter is the victim of sexual harassment.
At a previous School Committee meeting, he spoke during public comment and asked the school to change its bathroom policy and inform parents transgender students are allowed to use the bathroom that best matches their gender identity.
During the June 3 meeting, he said he was frustrated at the school’s lack of response to his complaints and said he was “emotionally exhausted” after filing the complaint and contacting administrators on multiple occasions.
Amidst calls for punitive measures against the other student involved in the incident, it remains illegal for administrators to disclose how minors are disciplined. The district has previously stated it will continue to abide by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education policy regarding bathroom use and state nondiscrimination laws.
While many attendees supported Rivera’s stance and called for altered policy or disciplinary action, many others supported the current policy and were concerned with a third grader’s gender identity turning into a political discussion.
Michael Kovacevich, a school guidance counselor, said many people’s responses to the situation have been informed by the outspoken Rivera and called for support for gender-nonconfirming students.
“We only have one side of the story presented by an upset parent,” he said. “Context matters.”
