Iowa schools are scrambling to comply with new transgender bathroom law

By Amanda Rooker

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Gov. Kim Reynolds signed SF 482 into law Wednesday afternoon which requires anyone in an Iowa school, including students, staff, parents and visitors, to only use restrooms and other changing areas that correspond with the biological sex listed on their official birth certificate.

The bill was written to take effect immediately, leaving Iowa schools with less than 24 hours to comply with the new law.

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, told reporters Thursday that she’s concerned about the law’s impact on transgender and non-binary students who are no longer allowed to use the restroom of their choice.

“Imagine being a kid who has identified as a girl throughout elementary school or middle school [and] woke up this morning and found out that now, all of a sudden, they’re less safe at school than they were when they went to school yesterday,” Konfrst said. “It is cynical and it is wrong to have done this behind closed doors without giving anyone any notice. Families this morning woke up heartbroken.”

House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) said several school districts across the state asked lawmakers for more guidance on bathroom policy. He told reporters Thursday that the new law comes in response to those requests.

“In our conversations with superintendents, I think you’d be surprised how many of them, whether they agree with the way we wrote the language or they disagree with the language, [were] specifically asking for a level of guidance to be able to handle these situations,” Grassley said.

Grassley told reporters they chose to have the bill take effect immediately so that districts “can begin to implement that level of guidance … as quickly as possible.”

He also pointed out that beyond requiring “males using male bathrooms and females using female restrooms,” the law does require districts to accommodate students who want more privacy.

“School districts do need to make an effort to provide accommodation,” Grassley said. “I think we shouldn’t lose that within the conversation.”

Konfrst expressed concern over whether schools have the necessary funding to provide those accommodations.

“Have we been funding our schools in a way that allows them to build new restrooms? Have we been funding our schools in a way that allows them to in any way, shape or form take care of this situation in their schools? No,” she said. “The legislature has done a political bill and now they’re saying to the schools, one more time, ‘It’s your problem, go solve it.'”

Although Konfrst said she believes the “best suggestion would have been just to not do this,” she also encouraged schools to provide unisex, single-stall restrooms to legally accommodate transgender and non-binary students.

However, she said she’s also concerned that could make some students feel excluded or treated differently because of their gender identity.

“Perhaps there is a unisex, single bathroom that students can use. Maybe it’s in the nurse’s office,” Konfrst said. “So every time a student needs to go to the bathroom, they need to leave their friends and leave everything and go find the nurse’s office, right? So we’re already you know, distinguishing them, setting them apart in a way that’s not appropriate.”

Ankeny Community School District:

Ankeny Community School District is committed to ensuring all students have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in an environment that fosters inclusion and support.

Yesterday, Iowa Senate File 482 went into effect immediately, which prohibits a person from using a restroom or changing area that does not correspond to the person’s sex. As a public school district, Ankeny Schools is required to comply with this law.

The district is working with staff, students, and families to ensure understanding and compliance with the law. We will work to create a plan, in alignment with SF 482, for those students and families who make individual requests.

Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District:

Dallas Center-Grimes CSD is unwavering in our commitment to providing a safe learning environment for our students and staff.

Senate File 482 was signed into law yesterday and our district will comply immediately. We are working through logistics this week. That includes updated signage in a small number of our restrooms.

DCG CSD will continue to serve all of our students with respect and compassion, just like we’ve always done.

Des Moines Public Schools (letter to parents):

I am writing to inform you about a new state law that impacts our school district, SF 482, which Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed late yesterday afternoon. The law prohibits transgender and non-binary students from using the bathroom or changing room of their choice. The law goes into effect immediately. We understand that this news may be concerning for LGBTQ+ students and their families, and everyone who cares about human dignity.

First and foremost, I want to assure our transgender and non-binary students and their families that they have the full support of Des Moines Public Schools, our administrators, teachers, and staff. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming and affirming environments for all students, staff and families regardless of their gender identity. We understand that this new law may feel like a setback, but we want to emphasize that we are here to support our students and ensure that they feel valued and respected. The law does allow schools to provide accommodations to use alternative private changing rooms and single-stall restrooms available within buildings with written consent from parents or guardians. Please know that individual schools may be impacted differently by this new law based on the layout and infrastructure within the building.

Des Moines Public Schools will continue to be a place where individual students are recognized and supported as unique and irreplaceable young people. We love our students, we love our staff, and we love our families. Our priority of creating and providing a safe, welcoming and an affirming environment for everyone is unwavering. We value the diversity of our student body and will continue to do everything we can to ensure that all students feel included and supported.

Urbandale Community School District:

Urbandale Community School District (UCSD) is dedicated to providing welcoming, safe, and inclusive learning environments for all students, staff, and families. As a public school district, UCSD is required to comply with all state and federal laws.

On March 22, 2023, Senate File 482 was signed into law effective immediately. The new law requires students, employees, parents, and visitors to use restrooms, changing rooms, and other related facilities, according to their biological sex as listed on a person’s official birth certificate. According to the law, students who desire greater privacy when using the restroom, changing rooms, and other related facilities may submit a written request, signed by their parent/guardian, to their school administrator. The administrator will then evaluate the request and offer alternative, reasonable accommodations consistent with the law.

As always, UCSD will remain in full compliance with all state and federal laws while also ensuring the safety and well-being of all students. UCSD is committed to teaching all, reaching all, and welcoming all.

Waukee:

As you can imagine, we are still working through logistics and will follow the law. Some school districts have received a legal interpretation of the bill, but as of now, we have not received anything from the Dept. of Education. We are not aware if that is coming or not, but work has begun to ensure we are complying with the new law.

KCCI also reached out to Ames and West Des Moines school districts but did not hear back.

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