On Tuesday, RedState reported on the recent video expose by Accuracy in Media of a Princeton High School assistant athletic director seemingly guiding a parent of a "transgender child" interested in playing sports at the school on how to bypass Ohio state laws restricting secondary and collegiate level sports to biological sex-based teams, as well as laws requiring same biological sex bathroom use.
Read it Here: OH Asst Athletic Director Caught on Tape Instructing a Parent on How to Skirt State Anti-Transgender Laws
On Thursday, RedState received correspondence from the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. In the letter addressed to Princeton High School Principal James Stallings, Yost issues a not-so-gentle warning, as well as guidance to the school concerning the state's expectation of educational institutions and adherence to state laws.
Ltr from Ohio AG Dave Yost by Susie Moore
The letter read, in part:
I write to offer a word of caution and guidance relative to Princeton City School District's compliance with recent legislation prohibiting transgender students from participating in female sports and entering women's bathrooms.
In a recent video circulated on social media, your Assistant Athletic Director was recorded providing guidance as to how a parent of a transgender student could circumvent Ohio law prohibiting men from competing in women's sports and changing/showering in the women's locker room. Specifically, Assistant Athletic Director Tamette Duckworth suggested that the transgender student not tell anyone of the previous gender and "discreetly" change in the women's locker room. These actions are expressly prohibited by R.C. §§ 3313.5320(B) and 3319.90 (B)(2).
Yost went on to reference those particular sections mentioned, which outline the responsibility of scholastic sports organizations, as well as the expected conduct for educational bodies.
Circumventing this law not only leads to unfairness in competition, but could also subject the School District to civil liability from other schools and/or the parents of students forced to change in a locker room with a member of the opposite sex. No parent should have to wonder whether their daughter has to change and shower with men.
Therein lies the rub. Northern Virginia schools are already in the crosshairs of the Trump administration over their opposition to Title IX guidance, as my colleague Teri Christoph reported:
We are at the FO part of the FA'ing being done by several public school systems in the Northern Virginia area, who have chosen not to abide by the Trump administration mandate requiring students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their biological sex. As a result, the Department of Education is putting the school systems in question—Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Prince William County Public Schools—into the "high risk" category for future federal funding, meaning they'll only be able to obtain funds through reimbursements.
The United States Supreme Court decision in United States v. Skrmetti affirmed Tennessee's (and other states') rights to not only pass such laws, but to protect minors from those who wish to encroach on these laws and policies. Even the appearance of assistant athletic director Duckworth counseling a parent to skirt Ohio state laws opens up the Princeton City Schools district, as well as the state, to unwanted scrutiny and potential lawsuits. Yost concluded the letter by suggesting the school system "undertake an investigation into its practices," and recommended teachers and staff undergo training on how to comply with Ohio laws regarding transgenders participating in sports and concerning bathroom use.
I suggest the Princeton City Schools Board of Education and Superintendent undertake an investigation into its practices to ensure compliance with Ohio law. Further, the School should immediately provide training to all teachers and staff relative to the law on transgender participation in sports and use of bathroom facilities.
The letter carbon-copied Princeton City Schools Superintendent G. Elgin Card, Princeton Board of Education President Jon Simons, and Princeton City Schools Director of Communications Tricia Roddy. RedState reached out to Roddy for comment, but at the time of publication, had not yet received a reply.
Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy RedState’s conservative reporting that takes on the radical left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.
Join RedState VIP and use the promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership!