Latest news with #SchoolDistrictBoard
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lynden School Board formalizes actions opposing transgender athlete policy
Lynden School District Board members passed a resolution at the board's Thursday meeting reaffirming the district's concerns about transgender students participating in women's divisions of school sports and indicating an intent to pursue legal action against the state agency that oversees public K–12 education. The resolution passed on a 4-0 vote, with Board President Jim Verburg absent. The resolution is the latest action by the school board to make changes to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's (WIAA) current gender participation policy after a Lynden female student athlete competed alongside a transgender student who won the 400m girls final at Washington's 2A State Track & Field Championship in May of 2024. The current policy states that 'all students have the opportunity to participate in WIAA athletics and/or activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity.' 'Lynden believes WIAA's current gender participation policy is unworkable and wants to be part of finding a path that is workable,' said Lynden School District Superintendent David VanderYacht in a statement to The Bellingham Herald. Following the state championship, the Lynden School District Board of Directors — along with 13 other districts and boards across Washington, including Blaine School District and Lynden Christian School — submitted proposed amendments to that policy that, if implemented, would effectively disallow transgender girls from participating in girls sports. Instead, the proposed policy creates two categories of competition: Boys/Open and Girls. Proposed Amendments to WIAA gender sports participation policy by Rachel Showalter on Scribd 'All student-athletes regardless of sex, gender identity, or gender expression who meet eligibility criteria are allowed to participate in the 'Boys/Open Category.' However, to maintain fair and equitable competition, participation in the 'Girls Category' is limited to students whose biological sex is female,' the proposed policy amendment states. The proposal states the amendment changes would address 'concerns about potential physical advantages in certain sports' and 'safety concerns that could arise from physical differences in some sports.' Franklin Co. joins growing opposition to transgender athletes in WA sports 'The spirit of the work has been to navigate this complicated and sensitive issue in a manner that honors and respects the dignity of all children,' Superintendent VanderYacht told The Herald. 'We want all students to have opportunity for participation in athletics, but we also think there is an unfair competitive advantage in girls' sports for transgender females who have gone through male puberty.' As of February, WIAA was aware of five transgender student athletes competing in the state, according to reporting by The Seattle Times. In a letter sent to WIAA in March, Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal expressed concern that the proposed amendments would violate Washington state law. 'WIAA must also follow state law, and OSPI is concerned that Proposed Amendments #7 and #8, to be voted on this April, would violate Washington state laws including Chapters 28A.640 and 28A.42 RCW and Chapter 392-190 WAC. We have confidence that WIAA would not implement these amendments if they were to pass in their current form,' Reykdal wrote in the letter. OSPI Letter to WIAA 03.19.25 by Rachel Showalter on Scribd 'Since 2006, Washington state law has prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and since 2007, WIAA's regulations have allowed students to participate in school-based athletics in alignment with their gender identity. Washington state's nondiscrimination law fits squarely within federal nondiscrimination law, and these protections for transgender and gender expansive youth have been implemented without controversy for nearly two decades. The State Superintendent and OSPI are charged with upholding and enforcing state and federal laws in Washington's schools, and we will continue to do so,' OSPI Chief Communications Officer Katy Payne told The Herald. The WIAA Representative Assembly was expected to finish voting on the proposed amendments by April 18, although the organization announced the amendment votes related to gender participation would be 'advisory' only and would not be implemented under current state law. The Herald was awaiting a response on the status of the vote as this article was published. Thursday's resolution, passed by the Lynden School District Board, states that its members are concerned OSPI 'has not upheld Washington's constitutional obligation to prioritize education' and that OSPI's guidelines have 'undermined the authority of local school boards.' The resolution further states that OSPI's actions have 'caused harm to students' and limited parents' rights. The resolution also suggests board members are concerned that compliance with state law may violate federal law, putting the district at risk of losing federal funding. 'School districts are put in a very difficult position when there is strong community advocacy combined with uncertainty of legal interpretations,' Superintendent VanderYacht said. VanderYacht told The Herald that while all humans benefit from community and involvement in activities aligned with the peer groups they most closely connect with, 'it is clear to our girl athletes that competing against other athletes who have gone through male puberty is unfair.' Lynden Resolution #06-25 by Rachel Showalter on Scribd The resolution states that the board plans to take several actions, including: ▪ File a formal Title IX complaint to the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education requesting a directed investigation and enforcement action concerning the application of Title IX, 'with the goal of ensuring equitable treatment and protection for all students.' ▪ File a formal complaint to the U.S. Attorney General's Office outlining concerns regarding the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) policy on gender inclusivity, 'and its potential conflicts with federal Title IX requirements.' ▪ Initiate legal action against OSPI to seek a ruling on whether OSPI's actions, mandates and enforcements related to its gender inclusivity policy 'exceed its statutory authority and/or infringe on the Board's right to operate the District.' The resolution authorizes the district's superintendent to include other interested school districts in that legal action.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fond du Lac school referendum fails, council incumbents reelected: Tuesday's election results
FOND DU LAC – Fond du Lac has reelected its city council candidates as voters picked their local leaders and school decisions in the spring election Tuesday. The polls closed at 8 p.m. April 1, and county precincts reported in by about 9:15 p.m. after 39,716 voters cast their ballots. The unofficial report is available at Here's who won in each race. Three out of seven Fond du Lac City Council seats were up for reelection, with incumbents Tiffany Brault, Keith Heisler and Patrick Mullen. Challenging their seats were Joseph Biber, Daniel Ireland and Luke Meihack. Brault, Heisler and Mullen were elected to keep their seats. The votes broke down as follow: Tiffany Brault received 6,403 votes Keith Heisler received 5,331 votes Patrick Mullen received 5,094 votes Daniel Ireland received 4,801 votes Luke Meihack received 4,156 votes Joseph Biber received 3,214 votes Related: Fond du Lac council, school board candidates share priorities ahead of April 1 election The Fond du Lac School District Board also had three seats open, with incumbent Antonio Godfrey Sr., as well as Luke Frame, Tom Oliver and Karen Moehn on the ballots. Fond du Lac-area voters picked newcomers Moehn, Frame and Oliver. The votes broke down as follow: Karen Moehn received 9,714 votes Luke Frame received 8,360 votes Tom Oliver received 8,248 votes Antonio Godfrey, Sr. received 7,753 votes Fond du Lac School District had a referendum question on the ballot: "Shall the Fond du Lac School District, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $10,000,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of maintaining operations, maintenance expenses and providing for security upgrades in the District?" The referendum failed with 9,617 votes against it. 8,452 voters chose yes. Read more: Wisconsin Supreme Court election results: Susan Crawford defeats Brad Schimel in most expensive judicial race in US history Campbellsport School District's contested race was for the board member seat representing the town of Ashford. Debby Flasch won with 2,017 total votes. Deborah Senn received 1,675 votes. The Ripon Area School District Board had three seats open, and candidate Chris Gatzke had the most votes with 2,012. The other two winners are Jessica Stollfuss with 1,752 votes and Stefanie Meeker with 1,690 votes. Kelly Nielsen received 1,510 votes. North Fond du Lac School District asked voters, "Shall the School District of North Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,900,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, by $2,000,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, by $2,200,000 for the 2027-2028 school year and by $2,500,000 for the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses, including for continued safety and current programs and services?" The referendum failed with 1,738 votes against it. 1,468 voters chose yes. Oakfield School District asked voters, "Shall the School District of Oakfield be authorized to exceed state revenue limits by $1,100,000 for the 2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29 school years all on a non-recurring basis to support School District educational offerings, staff salaries, and daily operating expenses?" The referendum failed with 812 votes against it. 756 voters chose yes. Waupun Area School District asked voters, "Shall the Waupun Area School District, Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $900,000 per year for three years beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2027-2028 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses, including to maintain facilities and small class sizes, to sustain and expand educational programming, and to pay salaries and benefits?" The referendum passed with 1,349 votes in favor. 1,061 voters chose no. Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@ This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac County election: Here's who won in area races
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters hopeful election will rejuvenate Champaign school board
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Voting for the Champaign County general election is coming to a close. Some hope the same can be said for division on the Champaign Unit 4 School District Board. 'It feels more like a reality show than it does a productive team,' Champaign voter and teacher Katie Smith said. Champaign Co. coroner clears 400 belongings from shelves following new efforts The board has not been without its fair share of controversy. Three members stepped away last year, and now five seats are up for grabs. 'As a teacher, I think we feel how contentious things are, and I think the community knows it as parents,' Smith said. 'I think people are ready to step up and see changes happen.' 11 candidates are vying for the spots — a turnout that's exciting for some. 'I think it's good, I've definitely seen a lot of elections where there weren't enough candidates and there were vacancies,' voter Todd Hunter said. 'I mean, right now, there are vacancies that they had trouble filling.' Only a few board members have stuck around throughout the turmoil. One of them is secretary Amy Armstrong, who's hopeful for the future as new faces get a seat at the table. 'I'm really looking forward to a fresh start, one where we can begin healing some of the fractures that have gotten in the way of progress,' Armstrong said in a statement to WCIA. The people in charge of that fresh start will be decided at the polls on tuesday. Smith is looking forward to the day the board is taken seriously again. Champaign Co. finds enough election judges 'My hope is that the board isn't a joke we talk about in the staff lunchroom,' Smith said. 'I want the board to be something we feel proud of, that represents us as teachers and not the latest gossip.' A former board member who left in December said he thought the board wasn't successful because of 'unproductive dynamics.' Armstrong hopes past drama won't go past the ballot box. 'Serving on the school board isn't about personal agendas; it's about doing what's best for our students, families, and 2000 dedicated employees,' Armstrong said in her statement. 'I'm hopeful we can move forward together, let go of past divisions, and refocus on what really matters: our students.' Of the 11 people running for a seat, only one is an incumbent. Armstrong's term goes until 2027. A list of polling locations can be found here. They are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The primary is over in Fond du Lac. Here's what to expect in the April 1 election.
FOND DU LAC – Out of Fond du Lac County's 64,073 registered voters, 6,080 ballots were cast during Tuesday's primary, making a .95% turnout, according to County Clerk Lisa Freiburg. In the town of Calumet Supervisor race, Tom Bartel earned the most votes with 153, followed by Ben Burlingham with 115 votes and Eric Radandt with 96 votes. Linda Baxter received 54, Chris Eickhoff received 48 and Ken Haensgen received 17. Here's what to expect in the spring election. The deadline to register to vote by mail or online for the April 1 election is March 12, and the deadline to register to vote at your municipal clerk's office is March 28. Voters can register at their polling place April 1. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is March 27 for regular voters and temporarily overseas voters, and March 28 for indefinitely confined and military voters. They must be received by your municipal clerk by 8 p.m. April 1. In-person absentee voting starts March 18. More information on voter deadlines, ballots and your municipal clerk will be available on Candidates vying for three open spots on Fond du Lac City Council are incumbents Tiffany Brault, Keith Heisler and Patrick Mullen, as well as Daniel Ireland, Luke Meihack and Joseph Biber. There are also three open seats on the Fond du Lac School District Board, with candidates Antonio Godfrey, Sr., Luke Frame, Tom Oliver and Karen Moehn. The Fond du Lac School District will have a referendum question on the ballot: "Shall the Fond du Lac School District, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $10,000,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of maintaining operations, maintenance expenses and providing for security upgrades in the District?" Sam Kaufman will run unopposed for Fond du Lac County Executive, and Mark Gundrum is running unopposed for Court of Appeals, district 2. Town of Byron Treasurer: Jodi Maga-Daniels and Kay Murre Town of Calumet Board Chairperson: Don Breth and Linda Baxter Town of Marshfield Board Supervisor 2: Joe Rappl and Kurt A. Pegel Town of Osceola Board Supervisor 1: Jay M. Miller and Douglas Hodorff Town of Ripon Board Supervisor (two seats): Kevin Ott, Wes Downs and Gary Page Village of Fairwater Trustee (two seats): Seth J. Lane, Nate Olson and Pamela Leahy Village of Oakfield Trustee (three seats): John Cedar, Owen Stoppleworth, Julie Henke-Franke and Jody Marcoe Village of Rosendale Trustee (three seats): Larry Crook, Barbara Hoch, John Potter and Kyle L. Goebel Village of St. Cloud Trustee (three seats): Tom Oetjen, Jared Berenz, Charles Pierquet and Ryan Birschbach Outside of the Fond du Lac School District, four other local school districts have contested races. A Campbellsport School District Board member seat representing the town of Ashford has candidates Deborah Senn and Debby Flasch. Ripon Area School District has three seats open, with candidates Jessica Stollfuss, Kelly Nielsen, Stefanie Meeker and Chris Gatzke. Kewaskum School District has two open seats, with candidates Bradley A. Petersen and Timothy Ramthun. Lomira School District has candidates Maggie Landowski and Linda Pickart for Zone 3, and Mike Sacotte and Rick Welak for Zone 4. The following school districts also have referendum questions on the ballot: North Fond du Lac School District: Shall the School District of North Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,900,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, by $2,000,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, by $2,200,000 for the 2027-2028 school year and by $2,500,000 for the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses, including for continued safety and current programs and services? Oakfield School District: Shall the School District of Oakfield be authorized to exceed state revenue limits by $1,100,000 for the 2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29 school years all on a non-recurring basis to support School District educational offerings, staff salaries, and daily operating expenses? Waupun Area School District: Shall the Waupun Area School District, Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $900,000 per year for three years beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2027-2028 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses, including to maintain facilities and small class sizes, to sustain and expand educational programming, and to pay salaries and benefits? Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@ This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac election: What's on the ballot April 1 in spring races
