Official policy on bathroom use nearly complete for Powell schools
POWELL — With a new law enforcing same sex restroom use in place, Park County School District 1 will soon have a written policy on bathroom use in Powell schools.
The legislation and policy come after parent concern over transgender restroom use caused the board to pass a resolution asking for legislative guidance from the state.
Two bills entered the legislative session and were combined into law signed by Gov. Mark Gordon in March.
Under the law, which immediately went into effect following this year’s legislative session, students are prohibited from using a restroom or changing room that does not match their sex at birth.
A drafted policy presented to the school board on Tuesday reiterates the law and outlines disciplinary action for those who do not comply. The only update required to the policy is inserting Park County School District 1’s name in the blank slot, Superintendent Jay Curtis told the school board during a Tuesday meeting.
“The statute is enforced today,” Curtis said. “What's reflected in this proposed policy is being enforced in our district today.”
The policy was reviewed by the district’s attorney Scott Kolpitcke, Wyoming School Board Association Executive Director Brian Farmer, an attorney, and school district attorneys around the state, Curtis said.
Students who don’t follow policy will face disciplinary action according to their school’s handbooks that will allow administrators to address situations on an issue-by-issue basis.
The handbooks will be updated in August.
Employee disciplinary action may reach termination or dismissal, and visitors, guests, volunteers and those who do not comply could be removed from school district buildings and property.
For those who don’t want to use a restroom, changing room or sleeping quarters matching their sex at birth, the district will provide “a reasonable accommodation,” under both the law and district policy.
The draft policy can be seen at park1public.ic-board.com/attachments/00c63c99- e912-43d5-b976-7fb8c0daf354.pdf.
This story was published on April 24, 2025.